City College of New York vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($4,664 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 23.2% lower than at CUNY City College ($14,474 vs. $18,840).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is 117.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $8,632 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.3% higher at Penn State Erie-Behrend College than at CUNY City College (about $11,668 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (88% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students is 10.2% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($10,760 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) 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. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and Penn State Erie-Behrend 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).

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates ($117 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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.