About
Is CUNY City College the School for You?
CUNY City College was founded in 1847 as the Free Academy of the City of New York to provide educational opportunities based on merit alone. At the time, its commitment to diversity and democracy in education was quite unique and this commitment has continued up to the present day. As part of the City University of New York system, the nation's largest public university system with 24 institutions, City College offers bachelor's and master's degrees and recently added a Ph.D. program in engineering.
<h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4>
<ul><li>Average student debt at graduation is $10,880 lower than the national average
</li><li>Diverse student body
</li><li>Located 9 miles from downtown New York and within 10 miles of LaGuardia Airport
</li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4>
<ul><li>Acceptance rate is 35.5 percentage points lower than the national average
</li><li>Total cost for in-state students is $7,505 higher than the national average for 4-year public institutions
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CUNYCityCollegeAtAGlance">CUNY City College at a Glance</h3>
<p>The 35 acre-campus of City College is located in Manhattan, not far from J.F.K., LaGuardia, and Newark airports. <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> reported that the student body of CUNY represented 109 languages other than English in 2011. Furthermore, the fact that 162 countries were represented in their enrollment is a testament to the cosmopolitan city in which this park-like campus is located. Women were first admitted to City College in 1930 for graduate studies, but the school did not become fully co-educational until 1951. Today, about half of the school's population is female. In 2011, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reported that 20% of City College students were Asian, 20% were African American, 33% were Latino, and 17% were White.
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<p>Since opening its doors, City College has graduated more people who went on to win the Nobel Prize than any other public college. The reputation, as well as the low reported debt upon graduation, may make City College an intriguing possibility. However, the acceptance rate is considerably lower than the national average. The NCES indicated that City College had a 30% acceptance rate compared to the national average of 65.5%. Of those who were accepted, 23% decided to enroll.
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<p>The higher-than-average total cost of attendance at City College is another factor to consider. The NCES reported that for the 2011-2012 academic year, the total cost for in-state students attending was $24,641. This is higher than the national average of $17,136 for 4-year public schools.
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<h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAidAtCUNYCityCollege">Getting In & Financial Aid at CUNY City College</h2>
<p>If you want to apply for admission to City College, you should submit your official transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, a non-refundable $65 fee, and your application by February 1 for fall enrollment or September 15 for the spring. High school juniors in the top 10% of their class may be eligible for early admission. City College also accepts students who have taken the GED exam, but you need to have received a score of 3250 to be eligible to apply. Different departments may have special admission requirements, so it's best to check with the school to make sure your application is complete.
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<p>Although the priority deadline for financial aid is March 15th, you can apply at any time after the first of the year. Available financial aid includes loans, grants, work-study, outside scholarships, and funds from the school itself. According to the College Board, 82% of students in 2011 had their need met. City College urges prospective students to come to their financial aid office for help finding scholarships or other methods of funding.
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<table border="1"><tr><th>Admissions and Financial Aid</th><th /></tr>
<tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td>February 1st (fall), September 15th (spring)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013)</i></td><td> March 15th (priority deadline)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Application Fee (2013)</i></td><td> $65*</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Acceptance Rate (2011)</i></td><td>30%**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Tuition & Fees (2011-2012)</i></td><td> $5,459 in-state, $11,369 out-of-state**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Average First Year Financial Aid Package (2011)</i></td><td> $8,572***</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Percent of Students With Need Met (2011)</i></td><td>82%***</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2011)</i></td><td>$15,780***</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i></td><td>6%**</td></tr>
</table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtCUNYCityCollegeOfNewYork">Student Life at CUNY City College of New York</h2>
<p>Only 2% of students at City College live on-campus, but there still exist many opportunities for on-campus involvement with 4 fraternities, 5 sororities, and 187 clubs and organizations to choose from. Additionally, City College is part of NCAA Division III athletics. The NCES reports that 74% of the students at City College attend full-time and that 86% of full-time, first-time students returned for a second year of study.
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<p>City College offers a variety of majors to choose from, and according to <i>U.S. News & World Report</i>, three of the most popular majors are psychology, engineering, and social sciences. The student to faculty ratio at City College is 15:1, which is just below the national average of 16:1. Around 40% of classes contain fewer than 20 students.
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<table border="1"><tr><th> <i>Student Life</i></th><th /></tr>
<tr><td><i>Campus Setting</i></td><td> Large city**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Student Population (2013)</i></td><td> 16,005 students (12,863 undergraduates)**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i></td><td>49% to 51%**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>% of Full-Time Students (2011)</i></td><td> 74%**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i></td><td> 96%**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>% of International Students (2011)</i></td><td> 2%**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Retention Rate (2011)</i></td><td> 86% (full time)**</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Campus Housing Available</i></td><td> Yes*</td></tr>
<tr><td><i>% of Students Living On-Campus</i></td><td> 2%***</td></tr>
<tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 8*</td></tr>
<tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> 187 organizations and clubs***</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *City College, **NCES, College Navigator, ***College Board.</i>
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<h3 id="section---ContactInformation">Contact Information</h3>
<ul><li><i>Address:</i> Wille Administration Building, Room 101, 160 Convent Ave, New York, New York 10031
</li><li><i>Phone Number:</i> (212) 650-6417</li></ul>

