Last Updated: Monday August 03, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College) — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Public Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education New York, New York 50.5% Acceptance Rate

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 New York, New York 10010 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 www.baruch.cuny.edu/

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

50.5%Acceptance Rate
3.7Avg GPA
1310Avg SAT
$13,521Annual Cost
$75,971Grad Salary
55.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
50.5%
Avg GPA
3.7
Avg SAT
1310
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1210–1410
Avg Net Price
$2,978
Need-Based Aid
55.3% receive Pell

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
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 50.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.70 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.25
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support

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
Spring Priority NEXT UP
September 15
Fall Priority
February 1
$65Application Fee
FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15Scholarship Deadline

💡 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:

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.70 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.30 – 3.49
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.29
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors

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

--%
Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

✅ 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?

Baruch College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.

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

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1310 — Competitive

This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.

SAT Math
670
SAT Reading
640
Composite
1310
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1410 SAT) to stand out. Below average? CUNY Bernard M Baruch College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.

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

SAT score percentiles for CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
SAT Math670610730
SAT Reading640600680
SAT Composite131012101410

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.

Don't skip the "optional" personal statement

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.

Know that Zicklin admission happens twice

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.

Treat Macaulay Honors as a separate application

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.

Use optional test scores strategically

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.

Expert Insight:

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

Full Name
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College)
City
New York
State
New York
ZIP Code
10010
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)

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.

$13,521Annual Cost
$2,978Net Price
55.3%Pell Grant
12%Federal Loan
$75,971Grad Salary (10yr)

Compare Similar Colleges

Less Competitive

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.

SchoolLocationSATACT
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 1287 28
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Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, CA 1277 29
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University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 1277 27
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Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA 1296 29
Mercer University Macon, GA 1280 28
Same Competitive

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.

SchoolLocationSATACT
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

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.

SchoolLocationSATACT
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.

SK

Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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