QCC vs. DCC

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Queensborough Community College in Bayside, NY with Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Queensborough Community College is larger than DCC based on total student enrollment (10,337 students vs. 6,606 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Queensborough Community College is located in Bayside, NY (Large City setting); Dutchess Community College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY Queensborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Dutchess Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Queensborough Community College 15:1; Dutchess Community College 20:1.

QCC vs. DCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, QCC or DCC? 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 Queensborough Community College than DCC ($5,436 vs. $9,612).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dutchess Community College are 38.1% lower than at CUNY Queensborough Community College ($13,786 vs. $22,260).
• Dutchess Community College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than QCC (about $460 more per year; $5,670.00 vs. $5,210.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at DCC than at CUNY Queensborough Community College (about $2,580 more per year; $10,670.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Queensborough Community College than at Dutchess Community College (84% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dutchess Community College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by CUNY Queensborough Community College students ($7,595 vs. $6,939).

QCC vs. DCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, QCC or DCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between DCC and QCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: QCC - Open admission; DCC - Open admission.

QCC vs. DCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for QCC and DCC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from CUNY Queensborough Community College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than DCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Queensborough Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than DCC graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, QCC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DCC graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More DCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former QCC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 43%)

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.