City College of New York vs. Dakota State

Deciding between CUNY City College and Dakota State 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
Dakota State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Dakota State Madison, SD
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Dakota State Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Dakota State 3,774
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Dakota State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Dakota State #718
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Dakota State -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Dakota State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Dakota State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Dakota State $9,654
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Dakota State $12,756
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Dakota State $9,742
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Dakota State $20,438
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Dakota State $5,371
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Dakota State 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Dakota State 2,418
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Dakota State 2,129
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Dakota State 88%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Dakota State 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Dakota State 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Dakota State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Dakota State 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Dakota State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Dakota State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Dakota State
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Dakota State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Dakota State 1190/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Dakota State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Dakota State
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Dakota State 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Dakota State
    • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Dakota State 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Dakota State $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Dakota State 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Dakota State $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Dakota State $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Dakota State 61%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Dakota State 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Dakota State Very Low
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Dakota State No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Dakota State 84%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Dakota State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Dakota State 4%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Dakota State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Dakota State 3%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Dakota State 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Dakota State 22%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Dakota State University in Madison, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 3,774 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Dakota State University is in Madison, SD (Distant Town setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dakota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Dakota State University 18:1.

City College of New York vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State ($4,664 vs. $20,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 48.3% lower than at CUNY City College ($9,742 vs. $18,840).
  • Dakota State University is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $2,314 more per year; $9,654.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at City College of New York than at Dakota State University (about $2,534 more per year; $15,290.00 vs. $12,756.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College as at Dakota State University (88% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 81.8% larger than aid received by Dakota State University students ($9,763 vs. $5,371).

City College of New York vs. Dakota State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dakota State University (1320) is 70 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; Dakota State University 1190/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsDakota State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Dakota State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Dakota State students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 18% at Dakota State.

City College of New York vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • CUNY City College's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Dakota State University's (34%).
  • Graduates from CUNY City College earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Dakota State graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $12,100 lower median loan debt than Dakota State graduates ($11,400 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dakota State graduates ($117 vs. $242).
  • More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.