CUNY City College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges for Education- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $66,039 A
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $3,776 A
- 78% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 60% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 144.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $144.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges for Education.
Every $1 spent returns $144.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,167,804.
What The Data Says
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A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 62% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $144.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why CUNY City College Matters
CUNY City College is a public research university in New York, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 12,505
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose CUNY City College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 60% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1070–1430. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,776 a year after grants and scholarships — 78% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $66,039 ten years after enrolling — 62% above the typical college, against $11,990 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.63 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
CUNY City College is an excellent choice for students looking for a solid education at an affordable price. With an enrollment of over 12,500 students and a 60% acceptance rate, it attracts a diverse group of learners. Here, students dive into a range of programs like psychology, engineering, social sciences, biology and biomedical studies, and visual and performing arts. This variety means there’s likely something for nearly every interest, making it a fitting environment for those eager to explore different academic paths.
After graduation, students can expect a good return on their investment. With a 10-year earnings average of $66,039, graduates are generally well-prepared to enter the workforce. Affordability is a strong point—especially considering the median debt is just $11,990. For many, this means they can pursue their career goals without the heavy burden of overwhelming student loans, which is crucial for financial stability in the long run.
When we look at the bottom line, the net price after aid is only $3,776, making it accessible for many, especially with a Pell Grant rate of 61%. This financial support can help ease the transition into college life. Students who thrive here are often those who appreciate a diverse and vibrant urban setting while being focused on their academic and career ambitions. The community is supportive, and with the right mindset, many find a pathway to success after their time at City College.
Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges for Education
- #4 Most Affordable Colleges for English
- #4 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Engineering
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Communications
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Visual
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Mechanical Engineering
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Electrical Engineering
Can I Get In?
How selective CUNY City College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, CUNY City College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,260. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- SAT Average
- 1260
- SAT Range
- 1070–1430
- Full-Time Faculty
- 34%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,231
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
- Applicants
- 33,648
- Admitted
- 22,410
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard CUNY City College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY City College is $15,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,776. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,251 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,990 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,340
- Out-of-State
- $15,290
- Avg Net Price
- $3,776
- Median Debt
- $11,990
- Pell Grant Rate
- 61%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 11%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,251
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,990
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,811
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,806
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at CUNY City College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is CUNY City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY City College earn a median of $66,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,435
- 8 Years
- $55,183
- 10 Years
- $66,039
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (343)
- 24%
- 100% (343)
- 24%
- 100% (343)
- 24%
- 100% (343)
- 24%
How CUNY Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is CUNY City College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, CUNY City College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,776/year ($15,104 total). Graduates earn $66,039 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,182,908 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,167,804 (144.5× your investment). The median debt is $11,990, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $15,104
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,182,908
- Net Return
- $2,167,804
- ROI Multiple
- 144.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,776
- Median Debt
- $11,990
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $799,862
Top Programs
The fields CUNY City College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Psychology 21% $38,232 early-career
- Social Sciences 15% $46,350 early-career
- Engineering 10% $81,531 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $23,930 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $30,211 early-career
- Communications 5% $47,127 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $70,304 early-career
- Education 5% $49,829 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for CUNY City College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, CUNY City College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,260. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY City College is $15,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,776. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,251 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,990 in federal student loans.
Is CUNY City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY City College earn a median of $66,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is CUNY City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does CUNY City College offer Early Decision?
No. CUNY City College does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at CUNY City College?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at CUNY City College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to CUNY City College.
- CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · Close peer56% grad $62,763 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY · Close peer55% grad $60,752 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer59% grad $63,163 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NY · Close peer56% grad $56,195 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Lehman CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer50% grad $58,013 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Farmingdale State CollegeFarmingdale, NY · Close peer55% grad $69,781 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is CUNY City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note