CUNY Hunter College vs Harvard
When it comes to higher education, CUNY Hunter College and Harvard University stand as two distinct beacons of academic excellence. Hunter College, a public institution nestled in the heart of New York City, offers a diverse and affordable education to a large student body, while Harvard, an Ivy League icon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, boasts a long history of academic rigor and prestige. With acceptance rates of 28% and 5%, respectively, these institutions cater to different applicant pools. Hunter College's popular majors include nursing, psychology, and biology, reflecting its commitment to preparing students for careers in healthcare and social sciences. Harvard, on the other hand, offers a wide range of majors, with popular choices such as computer science, economics, and government, reflecting its focus on research and leadership. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions and find the best fit for your academic aspirations.
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![]() CUNY Hunter College |
![]() Harvard University |
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Overview |
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Location | New York, New York | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 82.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 45.9% | 4.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | N/A | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | N/A | 33 - 36 |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 31,728 | 57,786 |
Total number of admissions given out | 14,562 | 2,318 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,321 | 1,951 |
Yield rate | 22.8% | 84.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$31,697
Out of state:
$39,647
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$78,028 |
Average net price | $4,586 | $13,910 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,930
Out of state:
$14,880
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$51,143 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
93.0%
Average amount $8,519 |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
4.0%
Average amount $4,522 |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $13,619 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
18,152
Men 34.2% Women 65.8% |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
Graduate students |
5,947
Men 22.7% Women 77.3% |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 4.1% | 23.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 706 | 12,874 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 57.7% | 96.7% |
Dropout rate | 12.2% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | 25.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Post-Baccalaureate Certificates)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Master's Degrees)
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Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
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