City College of New York vs. Wagner College

Deciding between CUNY City College and Wagner College? 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
Wagner College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Wagner College Staten Island, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Wagner College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Wagner College 2,001
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Wagner College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Wagner College #278
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Wagner College Lutheran Church in America
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Wagner College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Wagner College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Wagner College $53,200
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Wagner College $53,200
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Wagner College $16,485
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Wagner College $28,033
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Wagner College $37,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Wagner College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Wagner College 2,566
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Wagner College 2,258
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Wagner College 88%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Wagner College 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Wagner College 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Wagner College 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Wagner College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Wagner College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Wagner College Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Wagner College
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Wagner College 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Wagner College 1190/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Wagner College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Wagner College Feb 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Wagner College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Wagner College
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Wagner College 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Wagner College $64,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Wagner College 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Wagner College $26,379
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Wagner College $272
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Wagner College 37%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Wagner College 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Wagner College Medium
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Wagner College No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Wagner College 66%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Wagner College 3%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Wagner College 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Wagner College 11%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Wagner College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Wagner College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Wagner College 2%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Wagner College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Wagner College 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Wagner College 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Wagner College 41%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Wagner College based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,001 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Wagner College is in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wagner College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Wagner College 11:1.

City College of New York vs. Wagner College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Wagner 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 Wagner College ($4,664 vs. $28,033).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wagner College are 12.5% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,485 vs. $18,840).
  • Wagner College is 624.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $45,860 more per year; $53,200.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 247.9% higher at Wagner College than at CUNY City College (about $37,910 more per year; $53,200.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wagner College than at CUNY City College (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wagner College students is 288.2% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($37,897 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Wagner College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 10 points higher than at Wagner College (1240).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Wagner College 1190/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWagner College 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Wagner College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Wagner College Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wagner College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Wagner College has a higher acceptance rate (88%) 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. 20.1% at Wagner College.

City College of New York vs. Wagner College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Wagner College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Wagner College earn a median of about $14,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,100 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $14,979 lower median loan debt than Wagner College graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,379).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wagner College graduates ($117 vs. $272).
  • More Wagner College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.