Yale vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Yale 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.

Yale University
CUNY City College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (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
  • Yale 97%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with CUNY City College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Yale vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale ($4,664 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 5.3% lower than at Yale University ($18,840 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 816.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $59,910 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 339.8% higher at Yale than at CUNY City College (about $51,960 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Yale University (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 574.9% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($65,892 vs. $9,763).

Yale vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 270 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.75 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Yale vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $68,600 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $2,100 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($11,400 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($117 vs. $139).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.