Northeastern vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Northeastern University and CUNY City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northeastern University
CUNY City College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A-
  • City College of New York B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • City College of New York Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • 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
  • Northeastern 77%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 25%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 22%
  • City College of New York 10%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Northeastern vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern ($4,664 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 3.8% lower than at Northeastern University ($18,840 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 801.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $58,822 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 332.7% higher at Northeastern than at CUNY City College (about $50,872 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Northeastern University (88% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 416.4% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($50,421 vs. $9,763).

Northeastern vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 240 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); City College of New York - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Northeastern vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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).

  • Northeastern University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $16,475 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($11,400 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $171 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($117 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern 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.