Public · College

CUNY City College

New York, New York · Large city

60.0%
Admit rate
$3,776
Avg net price
57%
Graduation rate
$66,039
Median earnings

CUNY City College is a public bachelor's-granting institution in New York, New York (large city setting), enrolling 12,505 undergraduates. It is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

PublicMidsize · 12,505 undergradsLarge cityAccessible · 60% admitNCAA Division III without footballCold wintersNear the coast

Will you get in?

See where your numbers land against CUNY City College's admitted students.

Admit rate
60.0%
SAT (mid 50%)
1070–1430
Avg GPA (est.)
3.59

Enter a test score to see where you land against CUNY City College's admitted students.

A guide, not a prediction. It compares your numbers with the middle 50% of admitted students and CUNY City College's overall admit rate — it can't see essays, recommendations, activities, or your intended major, which all move real decisions.

About New York, New York

New York, often called New York City, is the most populous city in the United States. In the pre-Columbian era, the area of present-day New York City was inhabited by Algonquians, including Munsee-speaking Lenape. New York City is frequently the setting for novels, movies, and television programs and has been described as the cultural capital of the world. (Wikipedia)

Setting
Large city
Highest degree offered
Graduate
Nearest big city
8 miles to New York, NY
To the ocean
< 1 mile
Nearest airport
5 miles to LaGuardia (LGA) · major hub

How CUNY City College compares

View 100 more ranking appearances
#9 · Large Universities with the Lowest Student Debt #11 · Large Universities with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #6 · Colleges Admitting at Least 50% of Applicants with the Lowest Net Price #23 · Colleges Admitting at Least 50% of Applicants with the Lowest Student Debt #11 · Colleges Admitting at Least 50% of Applicants with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #31 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Highest Former-Student Earnings #82 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Highest Graduation Rates #75 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Highest Retention Rates #8 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Lowest Net Price #30 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Lowest Student Debt #19 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #41 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings #75 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates #64 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates #7 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Lowest Net Price #26 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt #14 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #8 · Public Universities with the Lowest Net Price #21 · Public Universities with the Lowest Student Debt #17 · Public Universities with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #6 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Net Price #19 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt #32 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #47 · Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #75 · Colleges with the Lowest In-State Tuition #86 · Public Universities with the Lowest Out-of-State Tuition #19 · Colleges with the Lowest Cost of Attendance #52 · Colleges with the Lowest Share of Federal Loan Borrowers #81 · Colleges with the Most Pell Grant Recipients #77 · Colleges Closest to Major Airports #38 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $30,000–$48,000 #52 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $48,000–$75,000 #34 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $75,000–$110,000 #26 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning Over $110,000 #5 · Public Universities with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price #43 · Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings in New York #7 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in New York #78 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in New York #12 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in New York #64 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in New York #6 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the Northeast #14 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Northeast #6 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Northeast #27 · Best Public Universities in the Northeast #6 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price on the East Coast #15 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt on the East Coast #6 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price on the East Coast #40 · Best Public Universities on the East Coast #80 · Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic #6 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the Mid-Atlantic #12 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Mid-Atlantic #6 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Mid-Atlantic #19 · Best Public Universities in the Mid-Atlantic #32 · Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings Near New York, NY #88 · Bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #7 · Bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #9 · Bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Business Administration, Management and Operations Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #11 · Bachelor's Business Administration, Management and Operations Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #7 · Bachelor's Psychology, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #1 · Bachelor's Psychology, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #42 · Bachelor's Biology, General Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #23 · Bachelor's Biology, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #5 · Bachelor's Biology, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #17 · Bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #2 · Bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #4 · Bachelor's Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #78 · Bachelor's Communication and Media Studies Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #39 · Bachelor's Communication and Media Studies Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #36 · Bachelor's Communication and Media Studies Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #77 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #5 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #12 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #9 · Bachelor's Political Science and Government Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #20 · Bachelor's Political Science and Government Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #2 · Bachelor's Economics Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #16 · Bachelor's Economics Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #9 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #11 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #28 · Bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #39 · Bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Sociology Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #7 · Bachelor's Sociology Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #20 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #23 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #3 · Bachelor's History Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #13 · Bachelor's History Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #40 · Bachelor's Music Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #44 · Bachelor's Music Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #54 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #35 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #16 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #24 · Bachelor's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #26 · Bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #92 · Bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #64 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #22 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #22 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings
Selectivity60.0%

More selective than 76% · #43 most selective of 137 in New York

SAT average1260

Higher than 73%

Graduation rate57%

Higher than 54% · #92 of 159 in New York

First-year retention79%

Higher than 60%

Earnings, 10 years after entry$66,039

Higher than 79% · #51 of 133 in New York

Average net price$3,776

Cheaper than 99% · #7 cheapest of 153 in New York

Median debt at graduation$11,990

Lower than 96%

Student–faculty ratio15 : 1

Lower than 35%

Undergraduate enrollment12,505

Larger than 91%

Percentiles compare CUNY City College with the nation's 2,196 four-year colleges, among schools reporting each statistic. State ranks count four-year colleges in New York.

Student body

Undergraduate vs. graduate

15,067students
  • Undergraduate12,50583%
  • Graduate2,56217%

Undergraduates by gender

12,505undergrads
  • Women6,72454%
  • Men5,78146%

Undergraduates by race / ethnicity

  • White12%
  • Black16%
  • Hispanic41%
  • Asian24%
  • Other or multiracial7.8%

Graduate gender splits aren't published in this data, so the gender chart covers undergraduates only.

By the numbers

Undergraduate enrollment
12,505
Graduate enrollment
2,562
Student–faculty ratio
15 : 1
Pell Grant recipients
61%
First-generation students
46%
Students over 25
14%
Median family income
$20,074
Avg faculty salary (academic year)
$119,079
Endowment
$304,811,846

Colleges don't publish true class-size data; student–faculty ratio (IPEDS) is the closest public measure of it.

Where students come from

Home state of the 2,666 first-year students who entered in fall 2023.

  • From New York87%
  • Other U.S. states9.8%
  • International3.6%

Most first-years stay in state — CUNY City College draws overwhelmingly from New York.

4% came from outside the U.S. Out-of-state students usually pay a higher tuition rate at public schools — check the cost card above for your bracket. Source: IPEDS residence & migration, fall 2023 entering class.

Admissions

Admission rate
60.0%
Test scores
Considered but not required
SAT range (25th–75th %)
1070–1430
SAT average
1260
SAT reading
540–700
SAT math
530–730
ACT composite
—
Average GPA (estimated)
3.59

Cost

In-state tuition
$7,340
Out-of-state tuition
$15,290
Room & board
$18,840
Books & supplies
$1,500
Total cost of attendance
$14,403
Average net price
$3,776

Net price is the total cost minus grants and scholarships — what students actually pay. It varies sharply by family income; see the breakdown below.

Outcomes

Graduated (within 6 years)
57%
Graduated on time (4 years)
29%
First-year retention
79%
Transferred to another college
25%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$46,435
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$66,039
Median debt at graduation
$11,990
Students with federal loans
11%
Paying down their loans (1 year in)
47%

About 28% of students who finish here need more than four years — each extra year adds roughly another year of tuition and living costs.

Graduating on time

By student background (4 years)

All students
29%
Low-income (Pell)
45%
First-generation
44%

When these bars run close together, students from every background tend to finish at similar rates — a sign the school supports the ~30% who are first-gen or low-income.

Campus life & athletics

On-campus housing
Yes
Dorm capacity
589
Dorm capacity vs undergrads
5%
Housing charge (year)
$13,920
Application fee
$65
Athletics
NCAA Division III without football
Varsity athletes
196 (103 men · 93 women)

Housing and fees: IPEDS 2023–24. Athletics rosters: Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25. Dorm capacity can include graduate and family housing, so the share of undergrads can top 100%.

Varsity sports (6)

Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)50
Soccer50
Basketball29
Baseball25
Volleyball25
Fencing17

Athlete counts per sport, Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25.

Campus safety

Safety grade
B
Reported offenses per 1,000 students
1.1 / year
Violent offenses (2022–2024)
29
Property offenses (2022–2024)
22

On-campus criminal offenses reported under the Clery Act, 2022–2024, across 1 campus (15,544 students). Counts reflect reports, not convictions — schools with strong reporting cultures often show more, so a higher count doesn't simply mean a more dangerous campus.

Reported offenses in an average year

The same 2022–2024 Clery Act reports, divided down to one year.

17reported offenses a year
9.7 violent a year7.3 property a year

By offense type, per year

Burglary
4.3
Fondling
3.7
Aggravated assault
3.7
Motor vehicle theft
2.3
Robbery
1.7
Rape
0.7
Arson
0.7

Averages, not a forecast — a single year can run well above or below this. Bars are scaled against this campus's most-reported offense, so they compare types here rather than against other schools.

What you'll actually pay, by family income

Average net price (total cost minus grants and scholarships) paid by aided students in each family-income band.

< $30k
$1,251
$30–48k
$2,990
$48–75k
$6,811
$75–110k
$9,982
$110k+
$12,806

College Scorecard / IPEDS, most recent year. Family income is total household income; net price covers tuition, fees, room, board and supplies after grant aid, for students receiving federal aid.

Four-year (or more) true cost

Net price for your family's income, projected across the time it actually takes students here to graduate.

Est. total to a degree
$32,257

$6,811/year × about 4.7 years — most students here don't finish in exactly four, and each extra term adds cost. A planning estimate from net-price and graduation-timing data, not a bill.

Does the school pay you to attend?

Grant aid from the school's own funds — the discount off sticker, on top of any federal or state help.

68%
of first-years get a grant from the school
$985
average award, among those who get one

Modest institutional aid: 68% of freshmen get a grant from the school, averaging $985. Most of what lowers the price here is federal or state money, not the school's own funds.

Blends need-based and merit aid — IPEDS doesn't split the two, so a high number can mean generous merit scholarships, deep need-based aid, or both. Figures cover 2,580 full-time first-year undergraduates, 2022–23. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid.

Is it worth it?

A rough return-on-investment read from what graduates earn versus what they borrow.

Median earnings (10 years)
$66,039
Typical debt at graduation
$11,990
Debt vs. one year's pay
18%
Out-earn a HS grad
57%

Typical debt would take roughly 1.8 years to repay at about a tenth of median earnings.

Solid value

A reasonable return: earnings comfortably clear the debt over a few years for most students who finish.

Earnings are the College Scorecard median for former students (working, not enrolled) 10 years after entry — not a guarantee, and they vary a lot by major. Debt is the median federal loan balance at graduation.

The pay gap here

Median earnings 10 years after entry, split by gender.

Women
$62,740
Men
$71,739

Men out-earn women by $8,999 (14%) a decade out.

Federal figures for former students working and not enrolled, 10 years after they first entered. A gap this wide usually reflects which majors men and women here tend to choose — not different pay for the same job.

Campus climate

Summer high
85°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
49.5″
Annual snow
29.8″

Average temperature

HighLow
20°60°90°JFMAMJJASOND

Average precipitation (inches)

0.02.34.6JFMAMJJASOND

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, New York Cntrl PK Twr, NY US station (3 mi from campus).

Median earnings of this school's own graduates 1 and 5 years after finishing each program, and median federal-loan debt at completion (College Scorecard). Small programs are privacy-suppressed (—). Click a major to compare colleges nationally.

Colleges similar to CUNY City College

Schools with a comparable profile — size, selectivity, cost, and graduate outcomes. Compare CUNY City College side by side →

Colleges near CUNY City College

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent cohorts), IPEDS institutional characteristics, Equity in Athletics (EADA) data, Clery Act Campus Safety and Security data, and NOAA US Climate Normals. Distances are straight-line from campus coordinates. Percentiles compare schools of the same level (four-year vs. two-year) that report each statistic.