City College of New York vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Deciding between CUNY City College and University at Albany? 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
University at Albany

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • University at Albany- SUNY

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • City College of New York Calculate
  • University at Albany- SUNY Calculate
  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • University at Albany- SUNY 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%)
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • City College of New York Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • City College of New York No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Meal Plan
  • City College of New York No
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • City College of New York No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Daycare Facility
  • City College of New York Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Learn More
  • City College of New York Details
  • University at Albany- SUNY Details

Comparable Facts

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

University at Albany is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (17,560 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

City College of New York vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY ($4,664 vs. $17,949).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 12.8% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,423 vs. $18,840).
  • University at Albany is 48% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $3,526 more per year; $10,866.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 104.4% higher at University at Albany- SUNY than at CUNY City College (about $15,966 more per year; $31,256.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at CUNY City College (96% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Albany students is 14.8% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($11,210 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 30 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; University at Albany 1120/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity at Albany 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University at Albany- SUNY students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) 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. 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY.

City College of New York vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and University at Albany- SUNY? 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).

  • University at Albany's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from University at Albany earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,800 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $9,665 lower median loan debt than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($11,400 vs. $21,065).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($117 vs. $217).
  • More University at Albany- SUNY graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.