City College of New York vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

City College of New York vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or RIT ? 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 RIT ($4,664 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 14.3% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,142 vs. $18,840).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 707.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $51,934 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 287.7% higher at RIT than at CUNY City College (about $43,984 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at CUNY City College (98% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 259.3% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($35,077 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 130 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; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) 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. 16.3% at RIT .

City College of New York vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Rochester Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $16,600 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($11,400 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $172 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($117 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.