City College of New York vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

City College of New York vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Lafayette 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 Lafayette College ($4,664 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 5.2% lower than at Lafayette College ($18,840 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 791% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $58,058 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 327.7% higher at Lafayette College than at CUNY City College (about $50,108 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Lafayette College (88% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 357.9% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($44,707 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 180 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; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

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

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

• Lafayette College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $31,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $14,600 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $151 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($117 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College 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.