City College of New York vs. NYU

Deciding between CUNY City College and New York 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; New York University 8:1.

City College of New York vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or NYU? 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 NYU ($4,664 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 19.9% lower than at New York University ($18,840 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 755.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $55,456 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 310.7% higher at NYU than at CUNY City College (about $47,506 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at New York University (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 452.1% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($53,901 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 270 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; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNew York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 55.4% at NYU.

City College of New York vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $26,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $11,850 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($11,400 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $123 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($117 vs. $240).
  • More NYU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.