CUNY Queens College
#1 Best Psychology Colleges in New YorkBottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 105.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $105.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Psychology Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $105.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,744,798.
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What The Data Says
An A- overall — top 14% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
Graduates earn 54% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 7.14% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $105.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why CUNY Queens College Matters
CUNY Queens College is a public university in Queens, 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
- 12,550
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose CUNY Queens 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 64% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1010–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $4,195 a year after grants and scholarships — 76% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,763 ten years after enrolling — 54% above the typical college, against $10,298 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 7.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 12,500 students, CUNY Queens College is a solid option for those looking to dive into fields like Psychology, Business & Marketing, or Education. The acceptance rate of 64% means it's accessible for many, while the diverse programs cater to a wide range of interests. This school feels particularly suited for students who appreciate a vibrant, urban setting and want to engage in social sciences or technology.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the 10-year earnings average stands at $62,763. That’s a decent figure, especially considering the affordable education here. Many students find their way into fulfilling careers without the crushing debt that can often come with higher education. The affordability is underscored by the net price of $4,195, which is quite manageable for many families, particularly when you consider that 47% of students receive Pell Grants.
When it comes to the practicalities, the median debt load is $10,298, which is relatively low compared to national averages. This makes CUNY Queens College an appealing choice for students who want to minimize financial burdens while pursuing their education. Those who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are looking for a supportive environment that emphasizes community and engagement.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective CUNY Queens 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 Queens College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Queens, New York, CUNY Queens College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 64%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
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 Queens College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Queens College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,488 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 $4,195 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,541 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,298.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is CUNY Queens College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Queens College earn a median of $62,763, 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 Queens College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, CUNY Queens College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,195/year ($16,780 total). Graduates earn $62,763 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,761,578 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,744,798 (105.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,298, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% 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 Queens College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
CUNY Queens 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 7.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.1% 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 35.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields CUNY Queens 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 Queens College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Queens College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Queens, New York, CUNY Queens College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 64%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Queens College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending CUNY Queens College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,488 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 $4,195 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,541 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,298.
Is CUNY Queens College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Queens College earn a median of $62,763, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does CUNY Queens College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
CUNY Queens 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 7.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.1% 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 35.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is CUNY Queens 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 Queens College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.82 (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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to CUNY Queens College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is CUNY Queens 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 Queens College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.82 (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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note