CCNY: the complete school report for parents

What does CCNY actually weigh in admissions?

CCNY rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 15 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is CCNY's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

71% of enrolled students had a 3.25 GPA or above. The average was 3.14 on a 4 scale, reported for 92% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

CCNY admitted 44.8% of 8,240 transfer applicants, against 58.0% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

CCNY offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.

What does my child need to take in high school?

CCNY requires 16 academic units and recommends 22. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will CCNY actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $3,776 a year at CCNY after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $6,930. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 53% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 30 merit awards averaging $6,049 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

What families at each income level actually paid:

14% of CCNY graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $7,849 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $127 a month in repayment. CCNY’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from CCNY pay off?

Graduates earn a median $66,039 ten years after entering, and $46,435 at six years. 73% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 53% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:

A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.

$111,970 to $25,104, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at CCNY:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

83% of first-years return for a second year. 50% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 49.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 54.0% of everyone else, a gap of 5.0 points.

How big are the classes?

31% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 2% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1, and 34% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at CCNY like?

14,379 undergraduates, 3% of first-years from out of state. 46% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $48,071.

What this means for your student

• 71% of enrolled students are at a 3.25 GPA or above, averaging 3.14. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Its highest-earning major returns $111,970 five years out against $25,104 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about CCNY

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