Colby College vs. City College of New York

Should I go to Colby College or CUNY City College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or City College of New York is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. CUNY City College comparison
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Colby College CUNY City College
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Overview

Colby College City College of New York
Location Waterville, ME New York, NY
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 2,284 15,012
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #37 #276
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College City College of New York
Tuition (In State) $63,790 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $63,790 $14,880
Room & Board $17,120 $18,104
Avg Net Price $15,163 $4,599
Avg Grant Aid $66,387 $9,236
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 86%

Admission

Colby College City College of New York
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 31,988
Admitted 1,215 18,576
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 58.1%
Enrolled % 49.8% 14.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.2
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34
SAT Range 1440/1550 1220/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Colby College City College of New York
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

Colby College City College of New York
Graduation Rate 91% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $49,800
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $11,400
Median Loan Payment $200 $117

Diversity

Colby College City College of New York
% Men 0% 7%
% Women 0% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 15%
% Black 3% 16%
% Hispanic 6% 35%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 11% 6%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Colby College City College of New York
% In-State 7% 87%
% Out-of-State 79% 0%

Campus

Colby College City College of New York
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • CUNY City College is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 2,284 students)

Colby College vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or City College of New York?

  • Colby College is 820.5% more expensive to attend than City College of New York for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 328.7% higher at Colby College than CUNY City College ($63,790.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY City College than Colby College ($4,599 vs. $15,163)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 5.7% lower than costs at CUNY City College ($17,120 vs. $18,104)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at CUNY City College than Colby College (86% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 618.8% larger than aid received CUNY City College ($66,387 vs. $9,236)

Colby College vs. City College of New York Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or City College of New York? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between City College of New York or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 238 points higher than at City College of New York (1125)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at City College of New York (3.2)
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Colby College vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or City College of New York? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between City College of New York and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than CUNY City College (91% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $23,600 more per year than City College of New York graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $49,800)
  • CUNY City College students graduate with a $7,945 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($11,400 vs. $19,345)
  • City College of New York graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($117 vs. $200)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/