Image via Hunter College
Hunter College
Yet another CUNY school to make the list, Hunter College was founded
in 1870 and is referred to as the “crown jewel” of the CUNY system. Many
students are drawn to Hunter because of its prime location on the upper east
side of Manhattan next to Central Park. Home to more than 17,000 students,
it has a 36 percent acceptance rate with an average high school GPA of
3.46 for accepted students. It’s in-state tuition of $6,700 and out-of-state
tuition of $18,000 are also a draw along with the other CUNY schools, and
Hunter has a four-year graduation rate of 28 percent. The school also awards
incoming freshmen with an average scholarship package of $8,550. Hunter
graduates take home a median starting salary of $50,900, and 52 percent of
graduate feel that their job has high meaning in their life.
Image via Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia has a sterling reputation of success as an Ivy League school, and all signs point to it having the best value on this list. Despite its $56,600
tuition, Columbia has an average freshman scholarship or grant package of more than $60,000. With an acceptance rate of just 6 percent and very high
entrance exam standards, it is able to retain a graduation rate of 88 percent. This also keeps Columbia’s student body to just over 6,000 while 78 percent
of them come from states other than New York. The impressive Ivy League alumni network is also part of the reason why Columbia graduates are able to
make a median starting salary of $69,200 with 30 percent of graduates working in science, technology, engineering and math professions.
QNS.COM
12 SPRING 2019
/QNS.COM