CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Baruch College, founded in 1919 in New York City, is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY) system specializing in business and public affairs. The vertical campus in Manhattan's Flatiron District houses the Zicklin School of Business, the largest collegiate business school in the nation. Baruch maintains a 19:1 student-faculty ratio while offering the resources of a major urban university. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including the Subotnick Financial Services Center and the Newman Library. Baruch is consistently ranked among the best public colleges for business and value by publications like U.S. News & World Report.
Baruch takes pride in its diverse student body and commitment to social mobility, with many first-generation college students. The college's location provides unparalleled internship and networking opportunities in finance, government, and nonprofit sectors. Campus life includes NCAA Division III athletics and over 100 student organizations. Recent additions include the new Administrative and Student Services Building. Baruch's combination of academic quality, urban location, and affordability makes it one of New York's most dynamic educational institutions.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Acceptance Rate
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 50.5% each year.
What Baruch College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 40 days left — Spring Priority💡 The scholarship deadline (FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Baruch College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Baruch College is 3.7. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.40 and 3.7? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.90–4.10.Baruch College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No Baruch-specific supplemental essay - only CUNY's optional 650-word personal statement for general freshman admission.
- Zicklin School of Business requires a separate internal GPA/course gate after enrollment.
- Macaulay Honors requires 2 essays + 2 letters, with decisions released separately from general admission (mid-Feb vs. March 17).
- Rolling admission with a priority deadline; admitted-student range is roughly 1100?1400 SAT.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Baruch College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's verified institutional data
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Baruch College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Baruch College Without SAT or ACT?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Average SAT Score: 1310
The average SAT score of admitted students at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is 1310 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
If your score is below 1210, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Baruch College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 670 | 610 | 730 |
| SAT Reading | 640 | 600 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1310 | 1210 | 1410 |
Below 1210, you're behind most admitted students; at 1410 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College) with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of Baruch College's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Baruch College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Baruch College is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
There's no Baruch-specific supplement - your only essay chance is CUNY's optional personal statement (up to 650 words). At Baruch's size, this is one of the few ways admissions separates similar-GPA applicants, so treat it as required.
Freshman admission to Baruch isn't admission to the Zicklin School of Business. Most students enter pre-business and must clear a GPA threshold plus gateway courses before formally entering - treat your first two semesters as a second admissions round.
Macaulay needs two distinct essays plus two recommendation letters, with decisions released separately - general admission in mid-February, Macaulay on March 17. List Baruch as your first choice if Macaulay through Baruch is your goal.
SAT/ACT are optional, but admitted students' range runs roughly 1100?1400 SAT. Submit only if your score strengthens your file relative to that range - a weak score can be omitted entirely.
Admitted students often assume getting into Baruch means they're in the business program. Zicklin has its own internal GPA/course gate, and students who miss it in year one get moved to a different major - this catches a lot of freshmen off guard.
Baruch College Profile
Is a Baruch College Degree Worth It?
Baruch College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $53,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.05%.
How much does a degree from Baruch College Cost?
The sticker price is $13,521/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $2,978.
55.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 12% take federal loans at Baruch College. File your FAFSA early and list Baruch College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Baruch College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $75,971. That's about 87% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | 1280 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Baruch College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Baruch College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College run about $75,971 a year.
At about $13,521 a year, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is on the more affordable end.
With 55.3% of CUNY Bernard M Baruch College students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong. An early FAFSA filing naming CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is the key move.
At 50.5%, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College average a 3.7 GPA.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.4 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.3, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — aim above 1310, ideally within the 1210–1410 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
