The Best CUNY Schools Ranked

Each year thousands of students apply for admission to CUNY, the largest urban public university system in the United States. CUNY stands for The City University of New York and the CUNY schools span all five boroughs of New York City. The CUNY schools have a rich history, with constituent colleges dating back as far as 1847 and CUNY itself being established in 1961. The university enrolls more than 275,000 students each year. Reflecting the city in which it is located, it has one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. Before we dive into our list of the CUNY schools ranked…

The other New York State public university system is known as SUNY (The State University of New York). Somewhat better known, their schools are located all throughout the state of New York. Other notable public university systems include California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC). The CUNY system is the fourth largest in the United States, following these three.

The Best CUNY Schools Ranked

As a public university system, the CUNY schools are highly regarded for their affordability and quality instruction. The CUNY schools also include cutting-edge research centers that offer excellent and unique opportunities to their students. There are 25 schools in the CUNY system: 11 four-year colleges, 1 honors college, 7 community colleges, and 6 graduate and professional schools. While this article will rank the best CUNY schools of the four-year variety, here is a complete list of schools in the system, organized alphabetically by borough.

List of CUNY Schools (Four-year)

1. Baruch College, Manhattan
2. Hunter College, Manhattan
3. Queens College, Queens
4. Brooklyn College, Brooklyn
5. New York City College of Technology (City Tech), Brooklyn
6. The City College of New York (CCNY), Manhattan
7. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Manhattan
8. Lehman College, Bronx
9. Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn
10. College of Staten Island, Staten Island
11. York College, Queens

*In addition to these 11 CUNY schools which are ranked below, there is also Macaulay Honors College. This is a highly selective school that provides full-tuition scholarships to all of its undergraduates. Students applying to Macaulay Honors College choose a home campus (one of the other four-year CUNY schools) where they will attend most of their classes.

List of CUNY Schools (Community Colleges)

• Bronx Community College, Bronx
• Hostos Community College, Bronx
• Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn
• Borough of Manhattan Community College, Manhattan
• Guttman Community College, Manhattan
• LaGuardia Community College, Queens
• Queensborough Community College, Queens

List of CUNY Schools (Graduate and Professional)

• Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, Manhattan
• CUNY Graduate Center, Manhattan
• CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Manhattan
• CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, Manhattan
• CUNY School of Professional Studies, Manhattan
• CUNY School of Law, Queens

The Best CUNY Schools Ranked (Continued)

Now, let’s turn to rankings. When it comes to determining the best CUNY schools, there are a number of criteria we considered. Our rankings are based on selectivity, cost, graduation rate, student-faculty ratios, and postgraduate outcomes.  These rankings cannot be definitive because each person will weigh the criteria that go into selecting a college somewhat differently. They will be helpful, though, when it comes to determining which schools fit your own particular needs.

1) Baruch College

Baruch College ranks at the top of our list of best CUNY Schools. Baruch is made up of three academic schools: the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, the Zicklin School of Business, and The Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. Known for its strong business focus, Baruch also has a wide range of offerings in other fields. Its campus is located between East 22^nd and East 25^th Streets in Manhattan, where it is well-served by public transit.

• Acceptance Rate: 51%
• SAT Range: 1150-1350
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 49%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 19:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,461
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $19,131
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,859

 2) Hunter College

Hunter College is a very close second in our list of CUNY schools ranked. Compared to Baruch, its focus leans more toward the liberal arts and humanities. Founded as a women’s college in 1870, Hunter began admitting men in 1946. Hunter’s main campus is located two blocks east of Central Park at East 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. The location has exceptional proximity to major cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frick Collection, and the Guggenheim Museum, among others.

• Acceptance Rate: 46%
• SAT Range: 1170-1340
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 31%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 13:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,380
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $19,050
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 18,152

 3) Queens College

Queens College has an 80-acre campus located primarily in Flushing, Queens, an exciting and diverse part of the city. Established in 1937, the college offers undergraduate degrees in 78 majors and over 100 master’s degrees.

• Acceptance Rate: 61%
• SAT Range: 1040-1190
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 28%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 16:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,538
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $19,208
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,883

4) Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College is located on a scenic 35-acre campus at a comfortable remove from the bustling city. Notable alumni include Bernie Sanders and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to U.S. Congress.

• Acceptance Rate: 51%
• SAT Range: 1020-1180
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 31%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 17:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,440
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $19,110
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,405

 5) New York City College of Technology (City Tech)

While its acceptance rate seems a bit high, City Tech is a very highly regarded school. According to U.S. News, City Tech ranks as the 16th best public school in the country.  It fills an important niche in New York. If you’re interested in a technology-related field, City Tech is definitely a college to look into.

• Acceptance Rate: 82%
• SAT Range: N/A
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 10%
• Student/Faculty Ration: N/A
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,320
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $15,270
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,277

 6) The City College of New York (CCNY)

Ranking in the middle of our list of CUNY schools, CCNY is an excellent college with a long and impressive history. It was established in 1847 as the first free public institution of higher education in the United States.

• Acceptance Rate: 60%
• SAT Range: 1050-1260
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 24%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 16:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,340
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $15,270
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,364

7) John Jay College of Criminal Justice (John Jay)

While primarily known for its focus on criminal justice and forensics, John Jay also boasts a well-regarded liberal arts curriculum. Established in 1964, John Jay is centrally located in Hell’s Kitchen in midtown Manhattan.

• Acceptance Rate: 45%
• SAT Range: 1000-1150
• Four-year Graduation Rate: N/A
• Student/Faculty Ration: 18:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,470
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: N/A
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,146

 8) Lehman College

Lehman College, the only four-year CUNY school located in the Bronx, sits at number 8 in our list of CUNY schools ranked. Lehman has a 37-acre campus with a charming combination of Gothic and modern architecture.

• Acceptance Rate: 42%
• SAT Range: 960-1080
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 30%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 18:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,380
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $15,330
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,375

9) Medgar Evers College

One of the smaller colleges on our list of CUNY schools, Medgar Evers College is located in central Brooklyn, close to Prospect Park. Some of the most popular majors at Medgar Evers College are biology, psychology, and business.

• Acceptance Rate: 86%
• SAT Range: 710-900
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 17%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 14:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,250
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $18,920
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,134

10) College of Staten Island (CSI)

CSI is the only of the 11 four-year CUNY schools located in Staten Island. CSI takes advantage of the space with a 204-acre campus surrounded by a park-like landscape. This is the largest campus of any New York City college.

• Acceptance Rate: 94%
• SAT Range: 990-1160
• Four-year Graduation Rate: N/A
• Student/Faculty Ration: 19:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: N/A
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: N/A
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,743

11) York College

The final entry in our best CUNY schools ranked, York College still provides excellent educational opportunities at a relatively affordable price. Health and business-related programs account for the most popular majors at York College, which is located in Jamaica, Queens.

• Acceptance Rate: 67%
• SAT Range: 870-1050
• Four-year Graduation Rate: 9%
• Student/Faculty Ration: 16:1
• In-State Tuition and Fees: $7,358
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $19,028
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,769

The Best CUNY Schools Ranked (Final Thoughts)

To recap, here is our complete list of the best CUNY schools ranked:

1. Baruch College
2. Hunter College
3. Queens College
4. Brooklyn College
5. New York City College of Technology
6. The City College of New York
7. John Jay College of Criminal Justice
8. Lehman College
9. Medgar Evers College
10. College of Staten Island
11. York College

As you can see, the CUNY system offers an excellent variety of affordable higher education options. Whether you are looking to go into the sciences or the humanities, to enroll in a trade program, or otherwise, if you’re looking to be in or around New York City these CUNY schools are worth a serious look. These rankings are meant to provide an entry and we encourage you to dive deeper. It will be worthwhile to further explore the particularities of any of these schools that appeal to—campus, student body makeup, popular majors, etc.—and to look into course offerings for any programs you might be interested in pursuing. New York City is an enriching place to study, especially when you take advantage of its unrivaled access to culture, and thanks to the CUNY system this is a possibility that remains open to many of us.