Harvard vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Harvard University and CUNY City 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.

Harvard University
CUNY City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or City College of New York? 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 Harvard ($4,664 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 11.1% lower than at Harvard University ($18,840 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 740.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $54,336 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 303.4% higher at Harvard than at CUNY City College (about $46,386 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Harvard University (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 596.7% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($68,015 vs. $9,763).

Harvard vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 300 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Harvard vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $86,900 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $4,900 lower median loan debt than City College of New York graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,400).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of New York graduates ($67 vs. $117).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.