City College of New York vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between CUNY City College and Western Washington University? 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
Western Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • City College of New York cuny.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • City College of New York Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 14,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

City College of New York vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University ($4,664 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 16.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($15,747 vs. $18,840).
  • Western Washington University is 30.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $2,242 more per year; $9,582.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.8% higher at Western Washington University than at CUNY City College (about $13,417 more per year; $28,707.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at CUNY City College (93% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 41.5% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($9,763 vs. $6,902).

City College of New York vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 20 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; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWestern Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) 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. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

City College of New York vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and Western Washington University? 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).

  • Western Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from CUNY City College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Western Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,800 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $8,013 lower median loan debt than Western Washington University graduates ($11,400 vs. $19,413).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Washington University graduates ($117 vs. $200).
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.