TCNJ vs. Hunter

Deciding between The College of New Jersey and CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • Hunter
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • Hunter 87%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • Hunter
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCNJ 87%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • Hunter $119
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Hunter 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Hunter 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • TCNJ Yes
  • Hunter Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • TCNJ No
  • Hunter No
  • Meal Plan
  • TCNJ Yes
  • Hunter No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • TCNJ No
  • Hunter No
  • Daycare Facility
  • TCNJ No
  • Hunter Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (22,538 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 Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

TCNJ vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ or Hunter? 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 Hunter College than TCNJ ($4,431 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 21% lower than at The College of New Jersey ($11,832 vs. $14,976).
  • The College of New Jersey is 165.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $12,250 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68% higher at TCNJ than at CUNY Hunter College (about $10,420 more per year; $25,752.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at The College of New Jersey (87% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 37% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($13,360 vs. $9,755).

TCNJ vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ or Hunter? 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 Hunter and TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY Hunter College (1260) is 20 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 Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • 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; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hunter students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
  • TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

TCNJ vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ and Hunter? 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 Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $11,702 lower median loan debt than TCNJ graduates ($11,548 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCNJ graduates ($119 vs. $240).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 56%)

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.