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CollegeRanker
Colleges / NY / Bronx
Public Bronx, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Social Mobility A+ Value A+ Affordability
50%
C-
Graduation Rate
About half of students who start complete their degree
$58,013
B+
Earnings (10yr)
Well above the typical college graduate
$3,148
A+
Net Price
82% less than the typical college
57%
B
Acceptance Rate
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +42% vs avg
Graduation -12% vs avg
Net Price +-82% vs avg
Mobility Top 1%

Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 106.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $106.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges for Health Professions.

106.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $106.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,333,924.

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What The Data Says

1

A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

2

Earnings 42% above the national college median.

3

Social mobility rate of 10.24% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

4

Every $1 invested returns $106.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why CUNY Lehman College Matters

CUNY Lehman College is a public university in Bronx, 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
10,696
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences

Why students choose CUNY Lehman College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B+
Top 19% overall
B+
Earnings
$58,013 median
A+
Value
18.4× net price
A+
Affordability
$3,148/yr net
C-
Graduation
50% graduate
A+
Social Mobility
10.2% climb Q1→Q5
B
Selectivity
57% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 11,000 students, CUNY Lehman College in the Bronx is a solid choice for those looking for a public education that emphasizes practical learning. The acceptance rate of 57% means there’s an opportunity for many to join, particularly if you're interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, or Computer Science. The focus here is on preparing students for real-world challenges, making it a great fit for those who appreciate a community-oriented environment.

After graduation, students typically see a 10-year earnings average of $58,013. That’s a decent figure, especially considering the affordable nature of the college. With a net price of just $3,148 after aid, it’s accessible for many families. The fact that around 60% of students receive Pell Grants indicates a commitment to supporting low-income students, helping them achieve upward mobility.

When we look at cost and debt, the median debt sits at $10,950, which is manageable for graduates entering the workforce. This affordability tends to attract students who are motivated and ready to engage in their studies. Those who thrive here often share a drive to succeed, making the most of the educational opportunities and support systems available. It's a place where hard work can translate into meaningful achievements after college.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective CUNY Lehman College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Lehman College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Bronx, New York, CUNY Lehman College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 57%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 970. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.

Acceptance Rate 57%
Retention Rate 73%
SAT Average 970
SAT Range 850–1150
Full-Time Faculty 38%
Faculty Salary (mo) $11,996
Student–Faculty Ratio 15:1
Diversity Index 0.59
First-Gen Students 52%
Applicants 22,455
Admitted 12,419
2

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 Lehman College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Lehman College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,360 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 $3,148 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,589 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,950.

$7,410
In-State Tuition
$15,360
Out-of-State
$3,148
Avg Net Price
$10,950
Median Debt
60%
Pell Grant Rate
12%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$1,589
Family Income $0–$30K
$2,374
Family Income $30K–$48K
$6,834
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,600
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is CUNY Lehman College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Lehman College earn a median of $58,013, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$51,067
6 Years After Entry
$54,571
8 Years
$58,013
10 Years
0.19x
Debt-to-Earnings
64%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$51,067 6yr $54,571 8yr $58,013 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

28%
100% (186)
28%
100% (186)
28%
100% (186)
28%
100% (186)

How CUNY Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation50%Earnings 10yr$58KNet Price$3KRetention73%Median Debt$11KPell Grant Rate60%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$2K$0-30K$2K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$14K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%36.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%27.9%MOBILITY10.24%

College ROI Calculator

Is CUNY Lehman College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, CUNY Lehman College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,148/year ($12,592 total). Graduates earn $58,013 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,346,516 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,333,924 (106.9× your investment). The median debt is $10,950, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$12,592
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,346,516
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,333,924
Net Return
106.9×
ROI Multiple
$3,148
Cost Per Year
$10,950
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
50%
Graduation Rate
4

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 Lehman College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

CUNY Lehman 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 10.24%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 36.7% 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 27.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $32,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

10.24%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
27.9%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
36.7%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$32,500
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is CUNY Lehman 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 Lehman College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.34 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.34
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.02
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
3.3%
Volunteering Rate
0.85
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
$9,114,416
Federal Grants
$387,669
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields CUNY Lehman 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Lehman College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a public institution in Bronx, New York, CUNY Lehman College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 57%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 970. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Lehman College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Lehman College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,360 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 $3,148 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,589 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,950.

Is CUNY Lehman College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Lehman College earn a median of $58,013, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does CUNY Lehman College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

CUNY Lehman 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 10.24%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 36.7% 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 27.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $32,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is CUNY Lehman 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 Lehman College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.34 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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