CCNY Degree Yields 20.9% Annual Return, Outpacing Stock Market

The fiscal year 2023-24 study calculates that for every dollar spent on a CCNY education, students recoup $7.90 in lifetime earnings. Beyond individual gains, the institution generates $1.60 in tax revenue and public savings for taxpayers, alongside $9.80 in broader social and economic benefits. Graduates typically clear their initial investment costs through higher wages within 7.6 years.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau anchor the findings. A bachelor's degree holder from CCNY earns $46,900 more annually than a high school graduate working in New York. Over a career, this translates to a present value of $406,200 in additional income. Lightcast’s assessment accounted for out-of-pocket expenses, student loan interest, and the opportunity cost of time spent in classrooms rather than the workforce.

Beyond individual student success, the firm estimated the college’s total economic impact on the New York region at $3.7 billion for the same fiscal year. Hannah Ruffridge, Lightcast’s Senior Director of Education Professional Services, noted that the report specifically highlights the distinct value trajectory of bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. Dee Dee Mozeleski, Senior Vice President of the Office of Institutional Advancement, described the data as a testament to the support provided by the university's teaching and research staff.