Wellesley vs. City College of New York

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley ($4,664 vs. $22,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 10.4% lower than at Wellesley College ($18,840 vs. $21,024).
• Wellesley College is 815.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $59,836 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 339.3% higher at Wellesley than at CUNY City College (about $51,886 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Wellesley College (88% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 556.7% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($64,116 vs. $9,763).

Wellesley vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 260 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Wellesley vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

• Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than City College of New York graduates ($8,900 vs. $11,400).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of New York graduates ($92 vs. $117).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.