Wesleyan University vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Wesleyan 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.

Wesleyan University
CUNY City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wesleyan University Middletown, CT
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Wesleyan University Small City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wesleyan University 4,011
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Wesleyan University Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wesleyan University #36
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wesleyan University -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Wesleyan University Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wesleyan University
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wesleyan University $70,342
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wesleyan University $70,342
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Wesleyan University $19,872
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Wesleyan University $23,025
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan University $65,995
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan University 42%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wesleyan University 14,389
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Wesleyan University 2,373
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wesleyan University 16.5%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Wesleyan University 34.8%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wesleyan University 1480
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wesleyan University 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wesleyan University -
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wesleyan University -
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wesleyan University Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wesleyan University Very High
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wesleyan University 33/35
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Wesleyan University 1415/1540
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wesleyan University Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wesleyan University Jan 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wesleyan University 8:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wesleyan University
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Ethnic Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • 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
  • Wesleyan University 92%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wesleyan University $58,000
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wesleyan University 89%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wesleyan University $17,500
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wesleyan University $180
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wesleyan University 47%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Wesleyan University 53%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wesleyan University High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wesleyan University No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Wesleyan University 53%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Wesleyan University 8%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Wesleyan University 7%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wesleyan University 11%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Wesleyan University 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wesleyan University 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wesleyan University 6%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Wesleyan University 9%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wesleyan University 5%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wesleyan University 8%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wesleyan University 78%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • City College of New York No
  • Meal Plan
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • City College of New York No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wesleyan University No
  • City College of New York No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wesleyan University No
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Learn More
  • Wesleyan University Details
  • City College of New York Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT 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 Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 4,011 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wesleyan University is located in Middletown, CT (Small City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wesleyan University 8:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Wesleyan University vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University ($4,664 vs. $23,025).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 5.2% lower than at Wesleyan University ($18,840 vs. $19,872).
  • Wesleyan University is 858.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $63,002 more per year; $70,342.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 360.1% higher at Wesleyan University than at CUNY City College (about $55,052 more per year; $70,342.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Wesleyan University (88% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 576% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($65,995 vs. $9,763).

Wesleyan University vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wesleyan University (1480) is 230 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan University 1415/1540; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wesleyan University - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wesleyan University Jan 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Wesleyan University (16.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.8% at Wesleyan University vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Wesleyan University vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wesleyan University 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).

  • Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Wesleyan University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $6,100 lower median loan debt than Wesleyan University graduates ($11,400 vs. $17,500).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wesleyan University graduates ($117 vs. $180).
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.