CUNY City College

New York, NY

publicgraduate

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Quick Facts

Wikipedia

11,934

Total Students

$7K

Tuition (In-State)

$15K

Tuition (Out-State)

$3K

Avg Net Price

58%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Graduation Rate

6-year

79%

Retention Rate

Doctoral Universities

Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About CUNY City College

CUNY's Flagship: Pioneering Free Public Education and Research Since 1847.

Step into the vibrant legacy of CUNY City College, America's first free public institution of higher education and the esteemed flagship of the City University of New York system. Since its founding in 1847 as the Free Academy, City College has been a beacon of opportunity, dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education based on academic merit. It famously earned nicknames like "Harvard of the Proletariat" and "poor man's Harvard" due to its commitment to opening doors for students from all backgrounds, particularly children of immigrants and the working class, shaping countless lives and contributing significantly to social mobility.

City College boasts a rich history of innovation and advocacy, from establishing the nation's first student government in 1867 to founding the first national fraternity to accept members without regard to religion, race, color, or creed. Its campus has long been a hub for intellectual discourse and social change, witnessing spirited political debates and pivotal student movements that have left a lasting impact on American higher education. Today, its legacy as a public research university continues to thrive, classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity."

Prospective students will find a dynamic academic environment, strong in fields like engineering and architecture, supported by significant endowments for its professional schools. The college's curriculum, historically blending classical training with practical subjects, has evolved to meet contemporary challenges while maintaining its core mission of academic excellence. With a commitment to supporting a diverse student body, including recent initiatives for undocumented students, City College remains a place where ambitious minds can pursue their dreams and contribute to a better future.

Key Highlights

✦Founded in 1847 as the Free Academy, it was the first free public institution of higher education in the United States.
✦Serves as the flagship institution and oldest of CUNY's 25 institutions, consistently ranked for high research activity (R2 classification).
✦Known historically as the "Harvard of the Proletariat" for its academic excellence and accessibility to working-class students.
✦Boasts a substantial endowment of $290 million (2019).
✦Pioneered the nation's first student government (Academic Senate, 1867) and the first national fraternity to accept members without regard to religion, race, color, or creed (Delta Sigma Phi, 1899).
✦Home to the Grove School of Engineering, named after Intel co-founder Andrew Grove, and the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture.

Timeline

1847

Founded as the Free Academy of the City of New York by Townsend Harris, the first free public institution of higher education in the U.S.

1866

Renamed the College of the City of New York; lavender chosen as the college color.

1867

The Academic Senate, the first student government in the nation, was formed.

1899

Delta Sigma Phi, the first national fraternity to accept members without regard to religion, race, color, or creed, was founded at CCNY.

1907

The college newspaper, The Campus, published its first issue, and the first degree-granting evening session in the United States was started.

1919

Separate Schools of Business and Civic Administration and of Technology (Engineering) were established.

1921

The School of Education was established.

1951

The entire institution became coeducational, after admitting women to graduate programs in 1930.

1961

The institution became known as The City College of the City University of New York as CUNY was formally established.

1970

Open admissions program implemented across the CUNY system.

2000

Open admissions eliminated and academic entrance requirements reinstated for CUNY senior colleges.

2005

The Engineering School was renamed the Grove School of Engineering after a $26 million donation from Andrew Grove.

2009

The School of Architecture was renamed the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture after a $25 million gift.

Schools & Colleges

4 notable schools within CUNY City College

⚙️

Grove School of Engineering

Renamed in 2005 after a $26 million donation from Intel co-founder Andrew Grove, it has the authority to grant doctorates in engineering and was initially established as the School of Technology in 1919.

🏫

Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture

Renamed in 2009 after a $25 million gift, it moved into a fully remodeled building designed by Rafael Viñoly.

📚

School of Education

Established in 1921, following the introduction of education courses in 1897 to meet city requirements for qualified teachers.

💼

School of Business and Civic Administration

Established in 1919 as a separate school, alongside the School of Technology (Engineering).

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