City College of New York Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at City College of New York is 58.1%.  Its admission rate is the 42nd lowest in New York.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into City College of New York and can you get accepted?

City College of New York is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 18,576 out of the 31,988 who applied were admitted.

CUNY City College typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.2. 14% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into City College of New York?

58% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to CUNY City College you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.2 or better
• Earn B grades in high school
• Score 1340 on the SAT

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

What GPA do you need to get into CUNY City College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into City College of New York are to have around a 3.2 high school GPA. You need about average high school grades.

If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as City College of New York accepts 58% of students who apply.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at City College of New York is 3.2 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B letter grades and regularly score around 83-86 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #89 in New York for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since City College of New York is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.2 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to CUNY City College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 87% of students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to CUNY City College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at City College of New York is 1340 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1220-1460. Students who get into CUNY City College score in the top 22 percent of all SAT test takers..  City College of New York ranks #25 in the state of New York and #141 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1340 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. City College of New York regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1220 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1220, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1100, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

CUNY City College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1340 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1340, you have around a 58% chance of being admitted. A 1460 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 72% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to CUNY City College is $65.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to CUNY City College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted