City College of New York vs. Hamilton College

Deciding between CUNY City College and Hamilton 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.

CUNY City College
Hamilton College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Hamilton College Clinton, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Hamilton College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Hamilton College 2,031
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Hamilton College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Hamilton College #26
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Hamilton College -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Hamilton College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Hamilton College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Hamilton College $17,510
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Hamilton College $28,719
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Hamilton College $55,511
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Hamilton College 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Hamilton College 8,531
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Hamilton College 1,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Hamilton College 13.6%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Hamilton College 39%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Hamilton College 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Hamilton College 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Hamilton College 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Hamilton College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Hamilton College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Hamilton College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Hamilton College 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Hamilton College 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Hamilton College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Hamilton College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Hamilton College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Hamilton College 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Hamilton College $79,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Hamilton College 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Hamilton College $15,760
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Hamilton College $162

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Hamilton College 44%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Hamilton College Medium
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Hamilton College No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Hamilton College 63%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Hamilton College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Hamilton College 3%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Hamilton College 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Hamilton College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Hamilton College 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Hamilton College 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Hamilton College based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

City College of New York vs. Hamilton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Hamilton College? 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 Hamilton College ($4,664 vs. $28,719).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hamilton College are 7.1% lower than at CUNY City College ($17,510 vs. $18,840).
  • Hamilton College is 839.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $61,620 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 351% higher at Hamilton College than at CUNY City College (about $53,670 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Hamilton College (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hamilton College students is 468.6% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($55,511 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Hamilton College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hamilton College (1500) is 250 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; Hamilton College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsHamilton College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Hamilton College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hamilton College students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Hamilton College (13.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 39% at Hamilton College.

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

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

  • Hamilton College's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Hamilton College earn a median of about $29,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $4,360 lower median loan debt than Hamilton College graduates ($11,400 vs. $15,760).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hamilton College graduates ($117 vs. $162).
  • More Hamilton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.