City College of New York vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or Penn? 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 ($4,664 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 1.7% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,840 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 835.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $61,346 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 349.2% higher at Penn than at CUNY City College (about $53,396 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at University of Pennsylvania (88% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 570.5% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($65,458 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 290 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; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.75 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 68% at Penn.

City College of New York vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $73,800 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $9,233 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($11,400 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($117 vs. $213).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.