Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Queens, New York
68.5% Acceptance Rate
CUNY Queens College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
68.5%Acceptance Rate
3Avg GPA
1210Avg SAT
$13,643Annual Cost
$62,763Grad Salary
47.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
68.5%
Avg GPA
3
Avg SAT
1210
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1100–1320
Avg Net Price
$3,830
Need-Based Aid
47.7% receive Pell
CUNY Queens College, founded in 1937 in Flushing, New York, is a public liberal arts college ranked among the top regional universities in the North by U.S. News. QC offers 70+ undergraduate programs across three divisions, with particular strengths in education, music, and media studies. The college's 80-acre campus features the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, the Science Building, and the Rosenthal Library. QC maintains a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and is recognized for combining quality education with affordability.
QC's location in one of New York's most diverse boroughs provides access to cultural institutions and professional opportunities. The Knights compete in NCAA Division II athletics. The college's Aaron Copland School of Music and Godwin-Ternbach Museum enhance campus cultural life. QC's Teacher Academy prepares educators for New York City schools, while its business programs connect students with Queens' thriving entrepreneurial community.
CUNY Queens College Acceptance Rate
CUNY Queens College is moderately selective. 68.5% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Queens 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 — 68.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.55
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
CUNY Queens College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for CUNY Queens College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 38 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.
Queens College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Queens College is 3. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
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 3.20–3.40.Queens College 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
3.00 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.60 – 2.79
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.59
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Freshman application requires an essay and at least one academic recommendation - not optional here
- CUNY-wide test-optional policy runs through 2027
- Honors options include Macaulay Honors College (full tuition), Queens College Honors Programs (Humanities, Math/Natural Sciences, Social Sciences), and TIME 2000 (math-teacher-prep scholarship)
- Freshman applicants can apply to up to 6 CUNY colleges under one application fee
- 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 Queens College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on CUNY Queens 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 Queens College (Queens College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Queens College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Queens College Without SAT or ACT?
Queens College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
CUNY Queens College Average SAT Score: 1210
The average SAT score of admitted students at CUNY Queens College is 1210 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1210 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1320 SAT) to stand out. Below average? CUNY Queens 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 1100, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Queens 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 | 610 | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 540 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1210 | 1100 | 1320 |
Below 1100, you're behind most admitted students; at 1320 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 1200
Can I get into CUNY Queens College (Queens College) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Queens 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 Queens College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Queens College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Prepare a genuine essay and secure an academic recommendation
Queens College's freshman application now explicitly requires both - unlike some other CUNY campuses, don't treat this as optional boilerplate.
Ask explicitly about Macaulay Honors College and Queens' own divisional honors programs
These offer full or half tuition and require separate consideration beyond general admission - don't assume they're automatic.
Future math teachers: look into TIME 2000 directly
This nationally recognized four-year scholarship program double-majors students in math and secondary math education, leading to 7-12 certification - name it specifically if teaching math is your goal.
Decide deliberately on SAT/ACT submission
CUNY's test-optional policy runs through 2027 - treat submission as a genuine strategic choice, not a default.
Expert Insight:
Some third-party sites report widely inconsistent acceptance rates for Queens College (from roughly 9% to over 70%) - these figures likely reflect data errors or conflation with other schools rather than actual selectivity. Confirm current acceptance data directly with CUNY or Queens College admissions.
Queens College Profile
Full Name
CUNY Queens College (Queens College)
City
Queens
State
New York
ZIP Code
11367
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Queens College Degree Worth It?
Whether Queens 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 $63,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.19%.
How much does a degree from Queens College Cost?
The sticker price is $13,643/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $3,830.
47.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 8.9% take federal loans at Queens College. File your FAFSA early and list Queens College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Queens College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $62,763. That's about 55% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Queens College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY Queens College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Queens College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Queens College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Queens College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at CUNY Queens College run about $62,763 a year.
At about $13,643 a year, CUNY Queens College is on the more affordable end.
About 47.7% receive a Pell Grant at CUNY Queens College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 68.5%, CUNY Queens College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at CUNY Queens College average a 3 GPA.
CUNY Queens College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.7 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.6, CUNY Queens 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 Queens College — aim above 1210, ideally within the 1100–1320 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for CUNY Queens 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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