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CUNY City College

City

New York, New York 10031

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Campus Vibe

Large UniversityUrbanPublicEngineering Focus

Strong graduate outcomes — known for psychology

CUNY City College is a public institution in New York with particular strength in psychology and engineering. With an average SAT of 1340, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A large campus of 11.9K undergraduates with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

55% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $66,039 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $3,486.

Established
1847
Motto
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Mascot
Benny the Beaver
Type
Public research university
Conference
NCAA Champion CCNY team

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

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58%Acceptance
1340SAT Avg
11,934Students
14:1Student:Faculty
55%Grad Rate
$66,039Earnings 10yr
$3,486Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

CUNY City College Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate58.1%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1340

Reading & Writing
610710
Math
610750

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

58.1%

Trend

SAT Avg

1340

Yield Rate

35.0%

Financial Aid

Pell Grant eligible
60%
First-generation
46%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,340
Tuition (out-of-state)$15,290
Room & Board$18,104
Books & Supplies$1,500
Total Cost of Attendance$13,514
Average Net Price$3,486
Median Debt at Graduation$11,990
Monthly Payment (10yr)$127

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$1,579
$30–48K$3,087
$48–75K$7,188
$75–110K$9,487
$110K+$11,887

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

92.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$9,775

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

92

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

23

Burglary

5

Aggravated Assault

3

Robbery

8

Motor Vehicle Theft

10

Sex Offenses

1

Arson

24

Drug Arrests

18

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Student-faculty ratio
14:1

Programs (151)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

79%

Negative
  • 79% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
11,934
Gender Split
51% / 49%
Women / Men
First Generation
46%
Pell Grant Recipients
60%

Race & Ethnicity

White 12%
Black 16%
Hispanic 40%
Asian 25%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate54.7%
Freshman Retention78.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$46,435
10 Years$66,039

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#105
vs 2024
Forbes
#167
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#185
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

College basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1847, New York State Governor John Young had given permission to the state Board of Education to found the Free Academy, which was ratified in a statewide referendum.
  • " Horace Webster (1794–1871), a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was the first president of the Free Academy.
  • The academy's first graduation took place in 1853 in Niblo's Garden Theatre.
  • In 1854, Columbia University denied distinguished chemist and scientist Oliver Wolcott Gibbs a faculty position because of his Unitarian religious beliefs.
  • Gibbs had been a professor at the Free Academy since 1848.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LGA New York LaGuardia5 mi
JFK New York JFK15 mi
EWR Newark Liberty15 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA183 mi · ~5h 17m drive
New York, NY8 mi · ~14 min drive
Hartford, CT93 mi · ~2h 41m drive
Providence, RI149 mi · ~4h 18m drive
Albany, NY127 mi · ~3h 40m drive
Syracuse, NY191 mi · ~5h 31m drive
Rochester, NY248 mi · ~7h 10m drive
Buffalo, NY291 mi · ~8h 24m drive
Philadelphia, PA88 mi · ~2h 33m drive
Pittsburgh, PA318 mi · ~9h 11m drive
Harrisburg, PA159 mi · ~4h 36m drive
Newark, NJ13 mi · ~23 min drive
Trenton, NJ59 mi · ~1h 42m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

New York LaGuardia (LGA)5 miles
Rental car
8 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
10 min$6-10
New York JFK (JFK)15 miles
Rental car
23 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
30 min$18-30

Deadline Calendar

CUNY City College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

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