City College of New York vs. JMU

Deciding between CUNY City College and James Madison 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
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

James Madison University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; James Madison University 17:1.

City College of New York vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or JMU? 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 JMU ($4,664 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 30.7% lower than at CUNY City College ($13,056 vs. $18,840).
  • James Madison University is 94.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $6,910 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.7% higher at JMU than at CUNY City College (about $16,314 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 24.1% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($12,114 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. JMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 10 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; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsJames Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 18.2% at JMU.

City College of New York vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $9,499 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($11,400 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($117 vs. $216).
  • More JMU 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.