Cornell vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Cornell University and CUNY City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Cornell University
CUNY City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cornell Yes
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cornell No
  • City College of New York No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cornell Yes
  • City College of New York No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cornell No
  • City College of New York No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cornell No
  • City College of New York Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Cornell vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell ($4,664 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 3% lower than at Cornell University ($18,840 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 844.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $61,974 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 353.3% higher at Cornell than at CUNY City College (about $54,024 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Cornell University (88% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 532.8% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($61,779 vs. $9,763).

Cornell vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (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: Cornell University 1500/1570; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Cornell vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $48,600 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $600 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($11,400 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($117 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.