Williams vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Williams College 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.

Williams College
CUNY City College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (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
  • Williams 95%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, 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 Williams based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Williams vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams 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 Williams ($4,664 vs. $15,894).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 8.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($17,260 vs. $18,840).
  • Williams College is 834.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $61,220 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 348.4% higher at Williams than at CUNY City College (about $53,270 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Williams College (88% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 606.4% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($68,966 vs. $9,763).

Williams vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams 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 Williams.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 280 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Williams vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams 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).

  • Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $3,182 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($11,400 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($117 vs. $150).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.