Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Jamaica, New York
59.4% Acceptance Rate
CUNY York College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
59.4%Acceptance Rate
3.15Avg GPA
1100Avg SAT
$13,686Annual Cost
$56,945Grad Salary
43.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
59.4%
Avg GPA
3.15
Avg SAT
1100
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
990–1210
Avg Net Price
$4,734
Need-Based Aid
43.4% receive Pell
CUNY York College, located in Jamaica, Queens, is a senior college of the City University of New York system with strengths in health sciences, business, and aviation.
The modern urban campus features specialized facilities including an aviation institute, nursing simulation labs, and a performing arts center. Students benefit from York's diverse community and strong connections to New York City employers.
CUNY York College Acceptance Rate
CUNY York College is moderately selective. 59.4% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What York 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 — 59.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.15 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.95 – 3.14
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.70
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
CUNY York College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark September 15 for CUNY York College (Spring Priority — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 34 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.
York College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at York College is 3.15. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.85–3.15 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.35–3.55.York College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context, such as leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.15 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.95 – 3.14
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.75 – 2.94
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.74
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- CUNY Aviation Center established 2003, funded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; only CUNY center dedicated to aviation.
- JFK Redevelopment Opportunity Scholarship requires 3.0 GPA, bachelor's degree, 3 recommendation letters, and residency in specific Queens/Nassau zip codes.
- Located in Jamaica, Queens; acceptance rate roughly 59%; over 60 undergraduate majors including Aviation Management and Aviation Policy.
- Graduate Fall 2026 applications recommended by June 1, 2026 for students requesting a student visa.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
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 York College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from CUNY York College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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 York College (York College) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at York College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into York College Without SAT or ACT?
York College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
CUNY York College Average SAT Score: 1100
Admitted students at CUNY York College average a 1100 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1100 — Less Competitive
A 1100 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1210 SAT) to stand out. Below average? CUNY York College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 990? A retake is worth it at York College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 550 | 490 | 610 |
| SAT Reading | 550 | 500 | 600 |
| SAT Composite | 1100 | 990 | 1210 |
A score under 990 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1210+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into CUNY York College (York College) with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in York College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for York College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
York College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Apply to Aviation Management through the CUNY Aviation Center specifically, not a generic business major
York's Aviation Management bachelor's and master's programs run through the CUNY Aviation Center (est. 2003, funded by the Port Authority of NY & NJ) - the only CUNY center dedicated specifically to aviation, housed in the Department of Business and Economics. Reference this center by name in your application to signal you understand the program's distinct funding and industry pipeline, not just "business with an aviation focus."
Check zip-code eligibility if pursuing the JFK Redevelopment Opportunity Scholarship
This scholarship for the MS in Aviation Management restricts eligibility to residents of specific Queens/Nassau zip codes tied to JFK-area communities. Confirm your home zip code against the published list before assuming you qualify, since this is a hard geographic eligibility filter, not just a preference.
Gather three recommendation letters addressing readiness for graduate-level aviation management specifically
The JFK Redevelopment Scholarship requires letters that speak directly to graduate-level readiness and aviation management suitability, not generic academic references. Brief your recommenders on this specific angle rather than reusing letters written for other programs.
Leverage the Port Authority-funded internship and fellowship pipeline
Program materials cite paid internship and fellowship access with the Port Authority of NY & NJ and JFK terminal operators as a direct benefit tied to this specific program. Ask the Aviation Center directly which current terminal operator partnerships are active before enrolling, since these placements are the program's real career differentiator.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes treat York's Aviation Management program like a standard business degree with a specialization tacked on, missing that it's tied to a distinct, externally funded center with its own scholarship geography and industry pipeline. Applying without referencing the CUNY Aviation Center or its Port Authority ties misses the strongest signal of genuine program fit.
York College Profile
Full Name
CUNY York College (York College)
City
Jamaica
State
New York
ZIP Code
11451
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a York College Degree Worth It?
Whether York 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.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $55,200, and graduates see a 6.05% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from York College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $13,686/year at York College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $4,734.
At York College, 43.4% receive a Pell Grant and 6.2% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming York College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a York College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, York College graduates report a median income of $56,945, about 40% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY York College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY York College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY York College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Degree Programs at York College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About York College Admissions
CUNY York College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $56,945/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at CUNY York College is relatively affordable, around $13,686/year.
43.4% of CUNY York College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
CUNY York College's acceptance rate is 59.4%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted CUNY York College students is 3.15, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.85 puts you in the standard applicant pool at CUNY York College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.75 or below makes admission tougher at CUNY York College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
CUNY York College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1100, and within the 990–1210 range, keeps you competitive.
CUNY York College's deadline is September 15 (Spring Priority).
CUNY York College charges an application fee of 65; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15. That's CUNY York College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all New York Colleges
Average SAT Score of New York Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in New York
Bachelor Programs in New York
Test Optional Colleges in New York
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in New York