City College of New York vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre ($4,664 vs. $16,621).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 18.9% lower than at CUNY City College ($15,274 vs. $18,840).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 94.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $6,940 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57% higher at Penn State Wilkes-Barre than at CUNY City College (about $8,716 more per year; $24,006.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at CUNY City College (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($9,763 vs. $9,742).

City College of New York vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and City College of New York.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) 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. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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).

• Penn State Wilkes Barre's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,418 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($117 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.