City College of New York vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than U of R based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 11,946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

City College of New York vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York or U of R? 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 U of R ($4,664 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 4.8% lower than at University of Rochester ($18,840 vs. $19,792).
• University of Rochester is 813.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $59,740 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 338.7% higher at U of R than at CUNY City College (about $51,790 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at University of Rochester (88% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 366% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($45,500 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. U of R Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 230 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 Rochester 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); U of R - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman U of R students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than U of R (40.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 15.4% at U of R.

City College of New York vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York and U of R? 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 Rochester's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $13,100 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($11,400 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $136 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($117 vs. $253).
• More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.