Rutgers vs. City College of New York

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
CUNY City College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (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
  • Rutgers 77%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than City College of New York based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rutgers vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers ($4,664 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 16.6% lower than at CUNY City College ($15,714 vs. $18,840).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 144.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $10,589 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 144.9% higher at Rutgers than at CUNY City College (about $22,151 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (88% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 71.5% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($16,742 vs. $9,763).

Rutgers vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 160 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rutgers students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Rutgers vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $10,815 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($11,400 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($117 vs. $229).
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.