Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New York, New York
58.1% Acceptance Rate
CUNY City College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
58.1%Acceptance Rate
3.2Avg GPA
1340Avg SAT
$13,514Annual Cost
$66,039Grad Salary
59.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
58.1%
Avg GPA
3.2
Avg SAT
1340
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1220–1460
Avg Net Price
$3,486
Need-Based Aid
59.6% receive Pell
CUNY City College (CCNY), founded in 1847 in New York City, is the flagship campus of the CUNY system and a top public college ranked #105 in National Universities by U.S. News. Known as the Harvard of the proletariat,' CCNY offers prestigious programs in engineering, architecture, and the sciences. Its 35-acre campus in Harlem features landmarks like the Shepard Hall and the Grove School of Engineering.
CCNY's legacy includes 10 Nobel laureates and a commitment to accessible, high-quality education. The college's location provides internships at Wall Street firms, tech startups, and cultural institutions. CCNY also boasts diverse student life, NCAA Division III athletics, and cutting-edge research in fields like nanotechnology and climate science.
CUNY City College Acceptance Rate
At 58.1%, admission to CUNY City College is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What City College of New York 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
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 58.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.75
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
CUNY City College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for CUNY City College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 45 days left — Spring Priority
Spring Priority
September 15
Fall Priority
February 1
💡 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.
City College of New York GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at City College of New York is 3.2. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.90–3.2 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
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 3.40–3.60.City College of New York GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.80 – 2.99
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.79
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture requires a supplemental "Creative Challenge" test alongside academic record for its limited fall cohort.
- Grove School of Engineering (the only public engineering school in NYC) sets specific freshman benchmarks: 4 years of high school math including pre-calculus at 80%+, plus a year of chemistry at 80%+.
- Transfer admission to Grove requires a 2.7 GPA, two semesters of calculus, one semester of physics (all "C" or better), and 24+ college credits.
- Test-optional policy in effect; Macaulay Honors College has its own November 16 deadline, separate from CCNY's general February 1 priority deadline.
- 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 City College of New York
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on CUNY City College's verified institutional data
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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 City College (City College of New York) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if City College of New York is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into City College of New York Without SAT or ACT?
City College of New York considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
CUNY City College Average SAT Score: 1340
The average SAT score of admitted students at CUNY City College is 1340 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1340 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1460 SAT) to stand out. Below average? CUNY City 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 1220, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at City College of New York. 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 | 680 | 610 | 750 |
| SAT Reading | 660 | 610 | 710 |
| SAT Composite | 1340 | 1220 | 1460 |
Below 1220, you're behind most admitted students; at 1460 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 1350
Can I get into CUNY City College (City College of New York) with a 1450 SAT?
A 1450 SAT puts you ahead of most of City College of New York'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 City College of New York
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into City College of New York isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Prepare for the Creative Challenge test if applying to Architecture
The Spitzer School of Architecture admits a limited number of students per fall and requires this supplemental creative assessment beyond your academic record - treat it as a real second admissions gate, not a formality.
Meet Grove School of Engineering's specific high school benchmarks
Freshman engineering applicants need four years of high school math (including pre-calculus) with an 80%+ average and a year of chemistry at 80%+ - these are more specific thresholds than general CCNY admission requires.
Know transfer engineering admission has its own GPA and course bar
Transfer applicants to Grove need a 2.7 GPA, two semesters of calculus, and one semester of physics, all with a "C" or better and at least 24 college credits - falling short routes you to the College of Liberal Arts and Science instead.
Apply early if targeting Macaulay Honors, Grove Engineering, Spitzer Architecture, or Sophie Davis Biomedical
These selective programs have earlier deadlines and separate requirements than general CCNY admission (priority deadline February 1 for fall; Macaulay specifically closes November 16) - don't wait for the general deadline.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes assume CCNY's relatively open general admission extends to its specialized schools. Architecture, Engineering, Macaulay Honors, and Sophie Davis Biomedical each have separate, more selective requirements and earlier deadlines - missing these means being routed to a different program entirely.
City College of New York Profile
Full Name
CUNY City College (City College of New York)
City
New York
State
New York
ZIP Code
10031
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a City College of New York Degree Worth It?
City College of New York 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 $48,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 6.39%.
How much does a degree from City College of New York Cost?
The sticker price is $13,514/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $3,486.
59.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 7.5% take federal loans at City College of New York — file your FAFSA early and list City College of New York as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a City College of New York Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $66,039 — about 63% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY City College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY City College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 1340 | 31 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY City College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
Degree Programs at City College of New York
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About City College of New York Admissions
Median graduate earnings at CUNY City College run about $66,039 a year.
At about $13,514 a year, CUNY City College is on the more affordable end.
With 59.6% of CUNY City College students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong — an early FAFSA filing naming CUNY City College is the key move.
At 58.1%, CUNY City College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at CUNY City College average a 3.2 GPA.
CUNY City College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.9 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.8, CUNY City 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 City College — aim above 1340, ideally within the 1220–1460 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for CUNY City 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.
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