The College of Staten Island has once again been recognized by Forbes as one of the nation’s colleges offering students the strongest return on their investment. CSI is ranked No. 22 on the magazine’s 2026 list of the 25 Colleges With the Highest Payoff, placing the College among institutions nationwide that combine strong earning potential with an affordable cost of attendance.
The recognition marks another year of national acknowledgment for CSI’s ability to provide an accessible, high-quality education while helping students prepare for successful careers.
“We’re proud that Forbes has once again recognized the College of Staten Island for the value we provide our students,” said President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch. “CSI remains committed to providing students with an affordable path to a degree, strong academic and career opportunities, and the foundation they need to open doors and succeed post-graduation.”
According to Forbes, the ranking identifies colleges that offer “the strongest financial return on investment thanks to graduates’ earnings and either relatively low costs or generous financial aid.” To determine the 25 colleges with the highest payoff, Forbes examined the price-to-earnings premium developed by the think tank Third Way, which measures the time it takes graduates to recoup the net cost of their education after grants and scholarships. The magazine also considered its debt-to-percent-borrowed index, which factors in both the percentage of students who borrow federal loans and the median amount of federal loan debt among borrowers. The federal data used for this year’s ranking comes from the 2024–2025 academic year.
CSI is one of several CUNY institutions featured prominently on this year’s list, reflecting the University system’s longstanding strength in providing affordable pathways to higher education. Forbes notes that CUNY institutions consistently perform strongly on its return-on-investment measures, in part because of their relatively low tuition, the number of students who live at home while attending college, and access to the broad employment opportunities of New York City.
The Forbes recognition adds to CSI’s growing list of national distinctions for affordability, student success, and educational value. The College has also earned recognition from Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, and other national organizations for its commitment to social mobility, academic excellence, and student opportunity.
