Amherst vs. City College of New York

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with CUNY City College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Amherst vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or City College of New York? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY City College than Amherst ($4,664 vs. $19,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 2.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($18,390 vs. $18,840).
• Amherst College is 860.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $63,140 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 361% higher at Amherst than at CUNY City College (about $55,190 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Amherst College (88% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 602.6% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($68,591 vs. $9,763).

Amherst vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or City College of New York? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between City College of New York and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 290 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Amherst vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and City College of New York? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $32,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $1,575 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($11,400 vs. $12,975).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($117 vs. $134).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.