TCNJ vs. City College of New York

Deciding between The College of New Jersey 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.

The College of New Jersey
CUNY City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • City College of New York
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • 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
  • TCNJ 87%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • City College of New York $117
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ 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 TCNJ based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

TCNJ vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 TCNJ ($4,664 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 20.5% lower than at CUNY City College ($14,976 vs. $18,840).
  • The College of New Jersey is 167.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $12,292 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.4% higher at TCNJ than at CUNY City College (about $10,462 more per year; $25,752.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at The College of New Jersey (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 36.8% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($13,360 vs. $9,763).

TCNJ vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 10 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman TCNJ students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

TCNJ vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ 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).

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $11,850 lower median loan debt than TCNJ graduates ($11,400 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $123 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCNJ graduates ($117 vs. $240).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.