CUNY Hunter College
#1 Most Affordable CollegesBottom 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.
Quick Degree Finder
Find an Accredited Program
Accepting applicants in this field now.
Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms
What The Data Says
An A- overall — top 12% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
Graduates earn 55% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 7.54% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 54%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,280. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Hunter College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,332 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $2,984 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields CUNY Hunter College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
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.
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 54%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,280. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Hunter College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Hunter College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,332 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $2,984 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
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 national averages for 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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.80 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.80 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note