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CUNY City College

Public Graduate Excellent 85/100

CUNY City College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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New York, New York

About CUNY City College

CUNY City College is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 12,505 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: ccny.cuny.edu

Acceptance: 60%
Graduation: 48.2%
Net Price: $3,776
Median Earnings (10yr): $66,039
Enrollment: 12,505
Student : Faculty: 14:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Excellent

85/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 54

Value 100

Affordability 96

Selectivity 74

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 60%, CUNY City College is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

60%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1070 – 1430

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether CUNY City College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 11.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending CUNY City College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,776 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$3,776

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

61%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

11%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $7,340
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $15,290
Room & Board (on-campus): $18,840
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,260
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus): $6,216
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,216
Total Cost of Attendance: $14,403

Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$1,251
$30,001 – $48,000

$2,990
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,811
$75,001 – $110,000

$9,982
Over $110,000

$12,806

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,000

10% percentile

$4,058

25% percentile

$11,990

Median percentile

$18,000

75% percentile

$28,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $9,604 ↓ $2,386

No Pell $10,479 ↓ $1,511

Dependent students $8,696 ↓ $3,294

Independent students $11,913 —

Female students $9,737 ↓ $2,253

Male students $9,850 ↓ $2,140

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($11,990), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

48% of full-time students who enrolled at CUNY City College graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

48%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

79%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered CUNY City College earn a median of $66,039 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$66,039

Earning > $25K

80%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$46,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$55,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$49,800

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$52,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$56,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,100, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 12.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 70% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

CUNY City College is home to 12,505 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

12,505

Part-Time

17%

First-Generation

46%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 40.7% 5,090

Asian 24.1% 3,007

Black 15.6% 1,955

White 11.8% 1,479

International 4.5% 565

Other 3.3% 406

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at CUNY City College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City New York, New York

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 589 beds

Adult Learners

14% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

CUNY City College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 99 distinct programs across 23 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

19 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)

6 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

8 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

4 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)

4 Programs

Health

Medicine $67K typical
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

3 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY City College is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$20,951

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$277M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$118,614

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

549 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	261	48%	$136,330
Associate Professors	161	29%	$113,304
Assistant Professors	68	12%	$95,072
Lecturers	59	11%	$90,113

Pros & Cons of CUNY City College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how CUNY City College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Below-average completion rate

Best for: Based on the data, CUNY City College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about CUNY City College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about CUNY City College.

Is CUNY City College hard to get into?

Admissions at CUNY City College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at CUNY City College?

CUNY City College has an acceptance rate of 60%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for CUNY City College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at CUNY City College scored between 1070 and 1430 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

How much does CUNY City College cost?

The average net price after aid at CUNY City College is $3,776 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is CUNY City College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $66,039 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,776 per year. That's roughly 17.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is CUNY City College known for?

CUNY City College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Biology, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do CUNY City College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering CUNY City College are $66,039, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is CUNY City College accredited?

Yes. CUNY City College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend CUNY City College?

CUNY City College enrolls 12,505 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at CUNY City College?

CUNY City College graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is CUNY City College a public or private college?

CUNY City College is a Public institution.

Where is CUNY City College located?

CUNY City College is located in New York, New York.

What programs does CUNY City College offer?

CUNY City College offers 99 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Biology, Fine Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY City College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at CUNY City College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.