Admit rate has ranged 35%–54% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Hunter College, the crown jewel of CUNY, offers a high-caliber education at a fraction of the cost of private NYC schools. Known for its powerhouse nursing, social work, and education programs, Hunter attracts ambitious, diverse students who thrive in its no-frills, academically intense environment. With a 54% acceptance rate and median earnings of $50,414 post-graduation, it's one of the nation's best values for urban achievers.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
16,289
In-state tuition
$7,382
Out-of-state tuition
$15,332
Top Majors
Psychology, Nursing, Computer Science
Campus Setting
Urban (Upper East Side, NYC)
Acceptance Rate
54%
Student Body Size
23,000+
Six-Year Grad Rate
61%
Median Early Salary
$50,414
Financial Aid Recipients
74%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$63,163
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
21.2×
Median debt at graduation
$11,000
Graduation rate
57%
First-year retention
78%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
57%
Pell (lower-income) share
88%
First-generation share
47%
Endowment / student
$11,906
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$94,255
Computer Science$56,415
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$55,693
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$55,286
Mathematics$40,485
Public Health
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
83°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
53.2"
Annual snow
17.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
7.5%
Bottom → top quintile
36%
From bottom quintile
21%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at CUNY Hunter College?
CUNY Hunter College's acceptance rate is approximately 54% (New York, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for CUNY Hunter College?
Admitted students at CUNY Hunter College typically score 1100–1420 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does CUNY Hunter College cost?
At CUNY Hunter College, the average net price (after aid) is about $2,984 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend CUNY Hunter College?
CUNY Hunter College enrolls approximately 16,289 undergraduate students.
Where is CUNY Hunter College located?
CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY.
Admissions
Hunter College admits just over half of its applicants (54%), making it moderately selective within the CUNY system. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1120–1400, though test scores are currently optional for admission. Nearly 19% of admitted students had GPAs of 3.75 or higher, while 47% fell between 3.50–3.74. With 32,244 applications for 17,355 spots, Hunter's admissions process favors strong academic performers—particularly given its reputation as CUNY's flagship campus.
Hunter offers over 100 majors across its five schools, with psychology (591 degrees awarded annually), human biology, computer science, and sociology among the most popular. The college is nationally recognized for its nursing, social work, and education programs, which attract particularly competitive applicants. The curriculum leans toward pre-professional training, with strong offerings in health sciences and urban studies reflecting its NYC location. Small class sizes in upper-division courses compensate for large introductory lectures, particularly in high-demand majors.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$39,585
Economics$39,523
Accounting and Related Services$38,559
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Hunter's commuter-heavy campus (just 5% of students live on campus) means social life revolves around clubs (150+ options) and academic departments rather than Greek life or dorm culture. Students describe the vibe as 'independent but not isolating,' with active communities forming around:
Performing arts groups like the Hunter College Dance Company
Cultural organizations representing NYC's diversity
Pre-professional clubs for nursing, education, and business majors
The lack of traditional campus amenities is offset by its prime Upper East Side location—students treat all of Manhattan as their quad.
Hunter graduates earn $50,414 median early-career salaries—exceptional for a school with a $2,984 average annual net cost. The 61% six-year graduation rate outperforms similar public colleges, though male students lag at 51%. Alumni outcomes shine in:
Healthcare: 20% of grads enter the field, buoyed by Hunter's nursing program
Education: 15% become teachers, many through Hunter's highly regarded education school
Social services: Strong pipelines to NYC government and nonprofits
Five years post-graduation, earnings jump to $70,493—a 53% increase that reflects Hunter's strong NYC professional networks.
Hunter's $4,127 average net price (after aid) makes it one of America's most affordable four-year colleges. Financial aid packages typically include:
$6,373 in federal grants
$3,991 from NY State
$1,200 from Hunter itself
74% of students receive some form of financial support, with Pell Grants (averaging $6,285) playing a major role. The college's work-study programs and partnerships with NYC employers help offset remaining costs—many students balance internships with part-time jobs.
Hunter delivers Ivy-caliber academics at CUNY prices, particularly in healthcare and social sciences. Its no-nonsense, career-focused culture appeals to self-directed students who want NYC opportunities without six-figure debt. The college punches above its weight in nursing (with clinical placements at top hospitals) and education (feeding grads into NYC public schools). While campus life requires initiative, Hunter rewards scrappy, ambitious students with unparalleled access to the city's professional networks—all for less than the cost of a daily MetroCard.
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