Home
Colleges
New York
CUNY Hunter College

Public Graduate Excellent 86/100

CUNY Hunter College

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

Compare This College

New York, New York

About CUNY Hunter College

CUNY Hunter College is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 16,289 students (a very 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: hunter.cuny.edu

Acceptance: 53.8%
Graduation: 45.8%
Net Price: $2,984
Median Earnings (10yr): $63,163
Enrollment: 16,289
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

86/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 54

Value 100

Affordability 95

Selectivity 79

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 53.8%, CUNY Hunter College is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

53.8%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1100 – 1420

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 Hunter College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 18.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending CUNY Hunter 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 $2,984 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$2,984

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

56%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

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): $7,382
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $15,332
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,832
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: $13,905

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

$1,029
$30,001 – $48,000

$1,935
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,003
$75,001 – $110,000

$8,810
Over $110,000

$12,259

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.

$2,191

10% percentile

$4,500

25% percentile

$11,000

Median percentile

$18,025

75% percentile

$27,255

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 $8,250 ↓ $2,750

No Pell $10,000 ↓ $1,000

Dependent students $7,500 ↓ $3,500

Independent students $12,000 ↑ $1,000

Female students $8,812 ↓ $2,188

Male students $8,869 ↓ $2,131

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,883, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

46% of full-time students who enrolled at CUNY Hunter College graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

46%

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 Hunter College earn a median of $63,163 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$63,163

Earning > $25K

78%

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

$49,900

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

Male graduates

$55,900

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

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$51,600

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

Family income (middle third)

$52,700

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

Family income (highest third)

$50,400

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

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $6,000, about 11% 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 ↑ 13.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

CUNY Hunter College is home to 16,289 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

16,289

Part-Time

18%

First-Generation

47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 31.3% 5,095

Asian 31.0% 5,054

White 18.4% 3,004

Black 11.1% 1,815

International 4.6% 743

Other 3.5% 577

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at CUNY Hunter 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 706 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 Hunter College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 105 distinct programs across 21 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.

2 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

16 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

3 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Human Biology $65K ($42K–$98K)
Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)
Museology/Museum Studies $37K ($30K–$50K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

9 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

3 Programs

Biology

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

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

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

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$13,115

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$181M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$114,890

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

628 instructional faculty across 5 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	266	42%	$132,681
Associate Professors	173	28%	$113,109
Assistant Professors	83	13%	$95,142
Instructors	1	0%	$74,417
Lecturers	105	17%	$88,751

Pros & Cons of CUNY Hunter College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how CUNY Hunter 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
Solid 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 Hunter College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about CUNY Hunter College

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

Is CUNY Hunter College hard to get into?

Admissions at CUNY Hunter College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 53.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at CUNY Hunter College?

CUNY Hunter College has an acceptance rate of 53.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for CUNY Hunter College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at CUNY Hunter College scored between 1100 and 1420 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 Hunter College cost?

The average net price after aid at CUNY Hunter College is $2,984 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is CUNY Hunter College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,163 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $2,984 per year. That's roughly 21.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is CUNY Hunter College known for?

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

What do CUNY Hunter College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering CUNY Hunter College are $63,163, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is CUNY Hunter College accredited?

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

How many students attend CUNY Hunter College?

CUNY Hunter College enrolls 16,289 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at CUNY Hunter College?

CUNY Hunter College graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is CUNY Hunter College a public or private college?

CUNY Hunter College is a Public institution.

Where is CUNY Hunter College located?

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

What programs does CUNY Hunter College offer?

CUNY Hunter College offers 105 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Social Work, Human Biology.

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

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