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CUNY Queens College

Public Graduate Strong 81/100

CUNY Queens College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Queens, New York

About CUNY Queens College

CUNY Queens College is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Queens, New York. It enrolls 12,550 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: qc.cuny.edu

Acceptance: 64.4%
Graduation: 45.3%
Net Price: $4,195
Median Earnings (10yr): $62,763
Enrollment: 12,550
Student : Faculty: 14:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

81/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 49

Value 99

Affordability 90

Selectivity 53

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 64.4%, CUNY Queens College is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

64.4%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1010 – 1290

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether CUNY Queens College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 19.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending CUNY Queens College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,195 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$4,195

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

47%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $7,538
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $15,488
Room & Board (on-campus): $17,132
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,260
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus): $6,216
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,216
Total Cost of Attendance: $14,367

Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$1,541
$30,001 – $48,000

$3,133
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,785
$75,001 – $110,000

$9,110
Over $110,000

$12,700

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,254

10% percentile

$4,468

25% percentile

$10,298

Median percentile

$15,500

75% percentile

$25,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $8,250 ↓ $2,048

No Pell $9,500 ↓ $798

Dependent students $7,500 ↓ $2,798

Independent students $10,500 ↑ $202

Female students $8,333 ↓ $1,965

Male students $8,841 ↓ $1,457

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,149, less than completers ($10,298), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

45% of full-time students who enrolled at CUNY Queens College graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

45%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

78%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered CUNY Queens College earn a median of $62,763 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$62,763

Earning > $25K

77%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$47,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$61,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$50,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$55,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$62,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,200, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 14.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

CUNY Queens College is home to 12,550 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

12,550

Part-Time

21%

First-Generation

47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Asian 31.5% 3,952

Hispanic 31.1% 3,904

White 17.3% 2,171

Black 10.0% 1,256

International 6.5% 818

Other 3.6% 448

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at CUNY Queens College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Queens, New York

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 510 beds

Adult Learners

17% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

CUNY Queens College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 91 distinct programs across 21 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

8 Programs

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

9 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

3 Programs

English

English $49K ($34K–$64K)
English $49K ($34K–$64K)
Rhetoric & Composition $48K ($32K–$67K)

4 Programs

Health

Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)
Dietetics & Nutrition $56K ($41K–$68K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY Queens College is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$14,148

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$64M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$108,265

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

607 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	200	33%	$133,404
Associate Professors	142	23%	$110,437
Assistant Professors	119	20%	$91,943
Lecturers	146	24%	$85,021

Pros & Cons of CUNY Queens College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how CUNY Queens College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Below-average completion rate

Best for: Based on the data, CUNY Queens College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about CUNY Queens College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about CUNY Queens College.

Is CUNY Queens College hard to get into?

Admissions at CUNY Queens College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at CUNY Queens College?

CUNY Queens College has an acceptance rate of 64.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for CUNY Queens College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at CUNY Queens College scored between 1010 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

How much does CUNY Queens College cost?

The average net price after aid at CUNY Queens College is $4,195 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is CUNY Queens College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,763 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,195 per year. That's roughly 15.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is CUNY Queens College known for?

CUNY Queens College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Computer Science, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do CUNY Queens College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering CUNY Queens College are $62,763, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is CUNY Queens College accredited?

Yes. CUNY Queens College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend CUNY Queens College?

CUNY Queens College enrolls 12,550 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at CUNY Queens College?

CUNY Queens College graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is CUNY Queens College a public or private college?

CUNY Queens College is a Public institution.

Where is CUNY Queens College located?

CUNY Queens College is located in Queens, New York.

What programs does CUNY Queens College offer?

CUNY Queens College offers 91 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Computer Science, Accounting.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY Queens College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY Queens College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.