MIT vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and CUNY City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CUNY City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A-
  • City College of New York B
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required to be considered for admission
  • City College of New York Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 58%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • MIT 42%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MIT Yes
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MIT No
  • City College of New York No
  • Meal Plan
  • MIT Yes
  • City College of New York No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MIT No
  • City College of New York No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MIT Yes
  • City College of New York Yes

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

MIT vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or City College of New York? 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 MIT ($4,664 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 7.1% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,840 vs. $20,280).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 750.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $55,056 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 308.1% higher at MIT than at CUNY City College (about $47,106 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 532.3% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($61,734 vs. $9,763).

MIT vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 300 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; City College of New York - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

MIT vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $92,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $5,916 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($11,400 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($117 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.