City College of New York vs. Penn State

Deciding between CUNY City College and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($4,664 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.2% lower than at CUNY City College ($14,474 vs. $18,840).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 181.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $13,304 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 173.3% higher at Penn State than at CUNY City College (about $26,500 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 16.1% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($11,336 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 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; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) 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. 17.1% at Penn State.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,418 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($117 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.