City College of New York vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between CUNY City College and Carnegie Mellon University? 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.

CUNY City College
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

City College of New York vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon ($4,664 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 3.6% lower than at CUNY City College ($18,166 vs. $18,840).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 802.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $58,906 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 333.3% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at CUNY City College (about $50,956 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Carnegie Mellon University (88% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 392.7% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($48,107 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon 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: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCarnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

City College of New York vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $52,900 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $14,850 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $154 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($117 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.