Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New York, New York
54.1% Acceptance Rate
CUNY Hunter College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
54.1%Acceptance Rate
3.7Avg GPA
1350Avg SAT
$13,310Annual Cost
$63,163Grad Salary
55%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
54.1%
Avg GPA
3.7
Avg SAT
1350
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1210–1470
Avg Net Price
$2,446
Need-Based Aid
55% receive Pell
CUNY Hunter College Hunter College, founded in 1870 in New York City, is the largest college in the CUNY system and a leading public liberal arts institution. The urban campus on Manhattan's Upper East Side offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs with particular strengths in health professions, education, and arts. Hunter maintains a 13:1 student-faculty ratio while providing the resources of a major research university. The campus features modern facilities including the Leon and Toby Cooperman Library and the new $350-million Science and Health Professions Building. Hunter's location provides unparalleled internship and cultural opportunities.
Hunter takes pride in its diverse student body and commitment to academic excellence within a public university setting. The college operates the Hunter School of Social Work and the renowned Hunter College Elementary and High School. Campus life includes NCAA Division III athletics and over 150 student organizations. Recent additions include the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. Hunter's combination of academic quality, urban location, and affordability makes it one of New York's most dynamic educational institutions.
CUNY Hunter College Acceptance Rate
At 54.1%, admission to CUNY Hunter College is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What Hunter 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
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 54.1% 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 Hunter College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for CUNY Hunter College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 37 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.
Hunter College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Hunter 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.Hunter 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
- Hunter College and Queens College are the only two CUNY senior colleges requiring a supplemental essay (500 words or less) as part of undergraduate admission.
- As of March 2026 (NY Senate bill S6705), CUNY recognizes accredited online high school diplomas for admission, provided the program meets Job Corps accreditation standards.
- Graduate application fee ($75) is automatically waived for current Hunter seniors and undergraduate alumni applying in Spring/Fall 2026.
- AP credit awarded for scores of 4+ on College Board CEEB exams; located in Manhattan, part of the CUNY system.
- 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 Hunter College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College (Hunter College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Hunter College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Hunter College Without SAT or ACT?
Hunter College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
CUNY Hunter College Average SAT Score: 1350
The average SAT score of admitted students at CUNY Hunter College is 1350 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1350 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1470 SAT) to stand out. Below average? CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter 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 | 680 | 600 | 760 |
| SAT Reading | 660 | 610 | 710 |
| SAT Composite | 1350 | 1210 | 1470 |
Below 1210, you're behind most admitted students; at 1470 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 Hunter College (Hunter College) with a 1450 SAT?
A 1450 SAT puts you ahead of most of Hunter 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 Hunter College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Hunter College isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Know that Hunter is one of only two CUNY senior colleges requiring an essay
Hunter College and Queens College are the only CUNY schools that require a supplemental essay (500 words or less) as part of the CUNY Admission Application - most other CUNY campuses don't. A student applying to multiple CUNY schools should specifically prepare this essay for Hunter rather than assuming it's a universal CUNY requirement they can skip.
Choose the essay prompt that reveals something new, not a rehash
Hunter's prompts explicitly ask for something "not reflected in your application" or a challenge you overcame - reusing a Common App personal statement wholesale risks redundancy if it covers ground already visible elsewhere in the file. Pick the prompt angle deliberately based on what your transcript and activities list don't already show.
Send transcripts and test scores directly - self-submission isn't accepted for graduate applications
For graduate admission at Hunter, transcripts must be uploaded as scans directly tied to official institutional records, and specific programs list additional required documentation. Confirm exact submission requirements per program page, since requirements vary noticeably by department (education programs, for instance, have their own separate essay prompts).
Hunter alumni: use the graduate application fee waiver
Current Hunter seniors and undergraduate alumni receive an automatic application fee waiver for graduate programs in Spring/Fall 2026 - just indicate Hunter College as your bachelor's-granting institution in the application. This is a real financial benefit specific to Hunter's own alumni that's easy to miss if not flagged directly.
Expert Insight:
Students sometimes assume all CUNY schools share identical requirements and skip the essay when applying to Hunter specifically - but Hunter (along with Queens College) is a genuine exception within the CUNY system, and an incomplete file here can stall an otherwise strong application.
Hunter College Profile
Full Name
CUNY Hunter College (Hunter College)
City
New York
State
New York
ZIP Code
10065
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Hunter College Degree Worth It?
Whether Hunter College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $55,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.14%.
How much does a degree from Hunter College Cost?
The sticker price is $13,310/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $2,446.
55% of students receive a Pell Grant and 7.2% take federal loans at Hunter College. File your FAFSA early and list Hunter College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Hunter College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $63,163. That's about 56% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Hunter 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 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY Hunter College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 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 Hunter 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 Hunter College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunter College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at CUNY Hunter College run about $63,163 a year.
At about $13,310 a year, CUNY Hunter College is on the more affordable end.
With 55.0% of CUNY Hunter College students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong. An early FAFSA filing naming CUNY Hunter College is the key move.
At 54.1%, CUNY Hunter College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at CUNY Hunter College average a 3.7 GPA.
CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter 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 Hunter College — aim above 1350, ideally within the 1210–1470 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for CUNY Hunter 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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