Howard vs. City College of New York

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Howard based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 14,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Howard vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard ($4,664 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard University are 8.1% lower than at CUNY City College ($17,322 vs. $18,840).
• Howard University is 387.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $28,470 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.2% higher at Howard than at CUNY City College (about $20,520 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at CUNY City College (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 117.8% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($21,262 vs. $9,763).

Howard vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 40 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Howard vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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).

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Howard University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,600 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($11,400 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $162 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($117 vs. $279).
• More City College of New York graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 33%)

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.