Williams vs. City College of New York

Williams College and CUNY City College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Williams College
CUNY City College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Williams (8.3% admitted vs 60%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1250.
  • Cheaper after aid: City College of New York. Average net price is $4,664 vs $15,894 at Williams.
  • Graduation: Williams 95% vs City College of New York 40%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Williams $73,600 vs City College of New York $49,800 (median).
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Key differences

Williams College CUNY City College
Acceptance rate
Williams more selective
Williams8.3%
City College of New York60%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Williams higher
Williams1490-1570
City College of New York1070-1430
Average net price
City College of New York $11,230 less
Williams$15,894
City College of New York$4,664
In-state tuition
City College of New York $61,220 less
Williams$68,560
City College of New York$7,340
Out-of-state tuition
City College of New York $53,270 less
Williams$68,560
City College of New York$15,290
Graduation rate
Williams +55 pts
Williams95%
City College of New York40%
Median earnings (10 years)
Williams +$23,800
Williams$73,600
City College of New York$49,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Williams 43%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • City College of New York
  • Average high school GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical high school grades
  • Williams A
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Williams Elite
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • City College of New York Low
  • SAT range
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • City College of New York 1070-1430
  • ACT range
  • Williams 34-35
  • City College of New York
  • Submit test scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & board
  • Williams $17,260
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average net price
  • Williams $15,894
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average grant aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Williams 54%
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Graduation rate
  • Williams 95%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Williams 83%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median loan payment
  • Williams $150
  • City College of New York $117
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Williams #14
  • City College of New York #313

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with CUNY City College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

CUNY City College is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 8.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($17,260 vs. $18,840).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 348.4% higher at Williams than at CUNY City College (about $53,270 more per year; $68,560 vs. $15,290).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Williams College (88% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 606.4% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($68,966 vs. $9,763).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Williams and City College of New York.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Williams average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.74 higher than at City College of New York (3.2).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $3,182 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($11,400 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($117 vs. $150).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 52%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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