CUNY Hunter College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,163 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $2,984 A+
- 83% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 54% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 141.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $141.3 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges.
Every $1 spent returns $141.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,675,155.
What The Data Says
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An A- overall — top 12% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
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Graduates earn 55% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 7.54% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $141.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why CUNY Hunter College Matters
CUNY Hunter College is a public university in New York, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 16,289
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions
Why students choose CUNY Hunter College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 54% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1420. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $2,984 a year after grants and scholarships — 83% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,163 ten years after enrolling — 55% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 7.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.80 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 16,300 students, CUNY Hunter College offers a vibrant urban setting perfect for those looking to thrive in a diverse academic community. The acceptance rate sits at 54%, which means there’s a good chance for many applicants to join. Students here dive into a range of disciplines, with popular fields including Psychology, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Health Professions, and Biology. This variety caters to those eager to explore different paths and find their niche.
Looking ahead, the financial outlook for graduates is promising. Alumni earn an average of $63,163 within a decade of completing their degree. This figure is significant when considering the affordability of Hunter College, where the net price after aid is just $2,984. The school has a substantial Pell Grant rate of 56%, indicating strong support for low-income students. While the graduation rate is 59%, many students still find success post-graduation, making it a viable option for upward mobility.
When evaluating the practical side of attending Hunter College, the numbers show manageable financial burdens. With a median debt of $11,000, students can enter the workforce with a reasonable financial commitment. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals seeking a balance between quality education and affordability. Hunter's urban location also allows for numerous internship opportunities, which can significantly enhance a student's experience and job readiness.
Rankings
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in New York
- #1 Most Affordable Master's Programs
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges for Psychology
- #1 Cheapest Online Bachelor's Programs
- #1 Cheapest Online Master's Programs
- #1 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Programs
- #1 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs
Can I Get In?
How selective CUNY Hunter College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Hunter College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, CUNY Hunter College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 54% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,280. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1280
- SAT Range
- 1100–1420
- Full-Time Faculty
- 29%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,726
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
- Applicants
- 33,944
- Admitted
- 16,246
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Hunter College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY Hunter College is $15,332, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,984. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,382
- Out-of-State
- $15,332
- Avg Net Price
- $2,984
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 56%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,029
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,935
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,003
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,259
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at CUNY Hunter College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is CUNY Hunter College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Hunter College earn a median of $63,163, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,414
- 8 Years
- $55,766
- 10 Years
- $63,163
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (556)
- 27%
- 100% (556)
- 27%
- 100% (556)
- 27%
- 100% (556)
- 27%
How CUNY Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is CUNY Hunter College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, CUNY Hunter College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,984/year ($11,936 total). Graduates earn $63,163 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,687,091 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,675,155 (141.3× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $11,936
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,687,091
- Net Return
- $1,675,155
- ROI Multiple
- 141.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,984
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does CUNY Hunter College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
CUNY Hunter College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 7.54%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 7.54%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 21.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $67,661
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $454,158
Top Programs
The fields CUNY Hunter College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Psychology 19% $35,030 early-career
- Social Sciences 12% $46,961 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10% $67,032 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $111,993 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $38,487 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $31,312 early-career
- Communications 4% $40,390 early-career
- Business & Marketing 4% $45,815 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for CUNY Hunter College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Hunter College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, CUNY Hunter College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 54% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,280. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Hunter College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY Hunter College is $15,332, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,984. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is CUNY Hunter College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Hunter College earn a median of $63,163, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does CUNY Hunter College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
CUNY Hunter College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 7.54%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is CUNY Hunter College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY Hunter College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to CUNY Hunter College.
- CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY · Close peer55% grad $60,752 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY City CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer56% grad $66,039 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NY · Close peer56% grad $56,195 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · Close peer56% grad $62,763 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Lehman CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer50% grad $58,013 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer72% grad $75,971 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is CUNY Hunter College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY Hunter College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note