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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College stands out among New York's accounting programs with graduates earning $50,105 annually while maintaining a remarkably low $2,978 net cost. This creates an unusual value proposition in a state where accounting costs range from $2,446 to over $17,000. The 15 most affordable programs show a stark divide between public CUNY schools averaging under $6,000 and private institutions often exceeding $14,000. New York's massive financial services sector, home to major accounting firms like Deloitte and PwC, provides abundant internship and career opportunities for accounting graduates. CUNY schools dominate the affordability rankings, occupying eight of the top nine spots. However, graduation rates vary dramatically across these programs, from 22% at Medgar Evers to 72% at Baruch. The state's TAP grant program helps reduce costs for residents, though living expenses in the NYC metro area can significantly impact total college costs.
50
Programs
$2,446 – $25,989
Net Price Range
$43,237
Avg. Program Earnings
55.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Accounting and Related Services Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
2 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
3 $2,978 $7,464 72.1% 49.5%
4 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
5 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
6 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
7 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
8 $5,881 $7,352 22.3% 87.7%
9 $9,900 $8,379 46.6% 92.1%
10 $10,376 $17,922 57.5% 59.8%
11 $11,147 $7,630 29.3%
12 $11,669 $24,705 32.1% 95.5%
13 $13,882 $8,578 59.2% 81.7%
14 $14,117 $19,126 27.5%
15 $14,642 $15,891 18.3%
16 $15,644 $8,771 53.5% 84.6%
17 $15,770 $22,106 48.1% 85.9%
18 $15,844 $8,678 56.6% 67.9%
19 $16,547 $8,881 58.8% 70.2%
20 $17,231 $8,769 60.4% 82.6%
21 $17,387 $8,710 48.0% 83.2%
22 $17,622 $34,535 64.2% 76.7%
23 $18,021 $8,966 72.1% 74.9%
24 $18,244 $33,724 58.4% 79.9%
25 $18,322 $32,720 70.7% 77.7%
26 $18,481 $8,524 68.9% 58.3%
27 $18,486 $10,408 63.9% 67.9%
28 $18,740 $38,135 70.2% 89.6%
29 $18,833 $8,812 70.2% 72.5%
30 $19,585 $33,560 56.7% 84.0%
31 $19,920 $42,740 57.1% 88.9%
32 $20,470 $10,782 73.4% 67.7%
33 $20,709 $44,360 56.0% 75.7%
34 $21,148 $17,290 64.7% 77.0%
35 $21,344 $37,720 62.6% 88.6%
36 $21,364 $10,363 83.6% 41.8%
37 $21,547 $38,970 71.0% 78.3%
38 $21,614 $27,570 52.3% 84.3%
39 $21,869 $24,308 55.5% 80.9%
40 $22,100 $32,150 47.0% 95.5%
41 $22,701 $39,530 55.5% 50.6%
42 $23,027 $36,756 65.7% 73.6%
43 $23,461 $37,504 63.9% 99.5%
44 $23,735 $37,932 64.0% 96.0%
45 $23,736 $41,370 65.7% 88.3%
46 $23,819 $37,452 51.0% 78.0%
47 $23,901 $41,642 55.4% 92.7%
48 $25,133 $28,600 40.3%
49 $25,842 $42,950 53.7% 84.1%
50 $25,989 $38,000 48.8% 92.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Baruch College strong for accounting value?

Baruch College delivers the highest graduate earnings at $50,105 with only a $2,978 net cost and maintains a strong 72% graduation rate. The school's Manhattan location provides direct access to major accounting firms and financial institutions. Students graduate with just $11,000 in debt, well below the state average.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable accounting programs?

Graduation rates span from 22% at CUNY Medgar Evers College to 72% at Baruch College, showing significant variation even within the same university system. Most CUNY schools fall between 30-60% graduation rates. Private institutions like Monroe College achieve 57% despite higher costs.

Is attending a more expensive program worth the investment?

SUNY Old Westbury costs $9,900 but produces graduates earning $50,742, demonstrating that higher costs can yield better outcomes. However, several CUNY schools like Brooklyn College offer strong $41,464 earnings for under $3,000. The data suggests public options generally provide better value than private alternatives.

Does location within New York affect accounting job prospects?

Schools in New York City and surrounding areas benefit from proximity to Wall Street and major corporate headquarters. Baruch College's Manhattan location likely contributes to its graduates' $50,105 average earnings. Even schools in outer boroughs like Queens College produce graduates earning over $41,000 annually.

What debt levels can accounting students expect?

CUNY schools typically produce graduates with $10,000-$16,500 in debt, while private institutions often exceed $24,000. Queens College graduates carry the lowest debt at $10,822 despite solid earning potential. For-profit schools like Monroe College saddle students with $24,513 in debt for similar outcomes.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.