City College of New York vs. Vassar

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Vassar College 7:1.

City College of New York vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Vassar? 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 Vassar ($4,664 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 3.2% lower than at CUNY City College ($18,240 vs. $18,840).
• Vassar College is 867.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $63,690 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 364.6% higher at Vassar than at CUNY City College (about $55,740 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Vassar College (88% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 488.4% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($57,443 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 250 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; Vassar College 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVassar College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Vassar (18.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

City College of New York vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $4,380 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($11,400 vs. $15,780).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($117 vs. $163).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.