CUNY Graduate Center vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Graduate School and University Center in New York, NY with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Graduate School and University Center is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (9,536 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Graduate School and University Center is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• CUNY Graduate School and University Center is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Graduate School and University Center 13:1; Plaza College 28:1.

CUNY Graduate Center vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CUNY Graduate Center or Plaza College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 30.4% lower than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($15,500 vs. $22,260).
• Plaza College is 113.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CUNY Graduate Center (about $8,215 more per year; $15,450.00 vs. $7,235.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Plaza College than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (about $265 more per year; $15,450.00 vs. $15,185.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plaza College than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (93% vs. 0%).

CUNY Graduate Center vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CUNY Graduate Center or Plaza 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 Plaza College and CUNY Graduate Center.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CUNY Graduate Center - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• CUNY Graduate Center has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at CUNY Graduate Center vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

CUNY Graduate Center vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CUNY Graduate Center and Plaza 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Graduate School and University Center graduates have a $4,575 lower median loan debt than Plaza College graduates ($9,340 vs. $13,915).
• Among borrowers, CUNY Graduate Center graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Plaza College graduates ($96 vs. $143).
• More CUNY Graduate Center graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 30%)

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.