City College of New York vs. Brown

Deciding between CUNY City College and Brown University? 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.

CUNY City College
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Brown University 6:1.

City College of New York vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Brown? 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 Brown ($4,664 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 7.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($17,444 vs. $18,840).
  • Brown University is 872.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $64,072 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 367.1% higher at Brown than at CUNY City College (about $56,122 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Brown University (88% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 528.8% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($61,392 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York or Brown? 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 Brown and City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 300 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBrown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown 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 Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 65.2% at Brown.

City College of New York vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $37,800 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $3,600 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($11,400 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($117 vs. $155).
  • More Brown 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.