York vs. VSU

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY York College in Jamaica, NY with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY York College is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (6,174 students vs. 5,605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY York College is located in Jamaica, NY (Large City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY York College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY York College 13:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

York vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, York or VSU? 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 York College than VSU ($5,131 vs. $17,840).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 40% lower than at CUNY York College ($13,355 vs. $22,260).
• Virginia State University is 36.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than York (about $2,685 more per year; $10,043.00 vs. $7,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48% higher at VSU than at CUNY York College (about $7,342 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $15,308.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia State University than at CUNY York College (92% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 36% larger than aid received by CUNY York College students ($12,447 vs. $9,154).

York vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, York or VSU? 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 VSU and York.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia State University (960) is 80 points higher than at York (880).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY York College 790/960; Virginia State University 840/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: York - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: York Feb 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman York students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.15) than students at VSU (2.85).
• VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than York (64.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at York vs. 14.3% at VSU.

York vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for York and VSU? 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).

• Virginia State University's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than CUNY York College's (20%).
• Graduates from CUNY York College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY York College graduates have a $20,700 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($8,800 vs. $29,500).
• Among borrowers, York graduates have an estimated $215 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($90 vs. $305).
• More York graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 28%)

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.