On August 26th, Queens College secured the 8th spot among City University of New York schools in Forbes’ list of “The 25 Colleges With The Highest Payoff.”
This list is determined by public and private schools that offer the best return-on-investment post graduation across the United States based on academic quality, student opportunities, affordability, and earning potential.
Brooklyn College ranked at the top of the list for the first time, followed by Hunter College (2), The City College of New York (4), Lehman College (5), Queens College (8), John Jay College of Criminal Justice (9), Baruch College (10) and College of Staten Island (21).
“It comes as no surprise that Queens College is ranked eighth among Forbes’s top colleges that turn education into success; this has been the hallmark of a Queens College education since the school was founded nearly 90 years ago. The Forbes ranking’s focus on social mobility reflects our mission of providing a high-quality academic experience at an affordable cost, helping to lift students and their families to new social and economic heights—particularly those who may not otherwise have had an opportunity to pursue a higher education degree,” said President Frank Wu in a statement given to The Knight News.
Being comparatively derived from Forbes “America’s Top Colleges” list, this ranking evaluates schools by analyzing the percentage of students who take on debt, how much debt graduates leave with, and the number of years it takes for a student to recover their investment into higher education.
“There’s no better way for our students to start this new academic year than with a reminder that the excellent education they’re receiving at CUNY will pay off after they graduate,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez in a CUNY press release.
QC currently serves over 20,000 students and offers degrees across multiple disciplines including Biology, Communication, History, Education, and the Social Sciences. In recent years, the college has expanded research opportunities, increased internships and partnerships with local businesses, and improved resources for student success. These efforts have clearly paid off, as QC continues to rise in recognition not just within the CUNY system, but also nationwide.
In request for comment, The Knight News inquired about how this recognition reflects the quality of education and student outcomes at QC.
Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management, Vivek Upadhyay, responded with the following statement: “Eighty-three percent of our graduates are employed or starting graduate school within six months, and almost 90% have said that they feel very well prepared to pursue a career. Alumni move into positions of leadership in law, medicine, business technology, education, the arts, and public service. We also have concrete outcomes in teacher preparation: 95% of student teachers have jobs at the time they graduate from QC and pursue graduate study: approximately 30% of our students continue their education in a graduate program within a year after graduation. These outcomes reflect the quality and breadth of a QC education.”
Although being ranked 8th is a significant achievement, Queens College views it as just the beginning. The college is moving forward with plans to enhance academic resources, improve career services, and provide even more support for student organizations. As Queens College continues to grow, students can look forward to more opportunities, stronger programs, and a reputation that opens doors far beyond campus.
