CUNY Hunter College admits 54.0% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 2 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Hunter College in the moderately selective category, with admission rates between 50-75%. The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates that Hunter College is more selective than typical public institutions of similar size and scope. This selectivity level reflects the institution's position as a flagship campus within the CUNY system and its location in Manhattan. The 54% acceptance rate means that academically qualified students have reasonable admission prospects, though the applicant pool includes many competitive candidates drawn to the combination of strong academics, low cost, and New York City location. Students considering Hunter College should view it as a target school rather than a safety, particularly given the institutional strengths in specific programs like nursing, psychology, and computer science. For prospective students, this selectivity level indicates the importance of presenting a complete application with strong academic credentials. Building a balanced college list that includes both more selective and less selective options within the CUNY system represents sound application strategy for students interested in public higher education in New York.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
CUNY Hunter College admits students with strong academic credentials that exceed typical public institution standards. Admitted students typically score 1210-1470 on the SAT, with the middle 50% falling in this range and a median of 1350. SAT Math scores range from 600-760, while SAT Verbal scores span 610-710. These scores are significantly above the peer median SAT of 1198, with Hunter College students scoring 152 points higher on average. This 152-point difference reflects the competitive academic environment and quality of incoming students. Students scoring below 1210 should expect to be at a competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. If your scores fall within the 1210-1470 range, you are academically competitive for admission to Hunter College. The ranges represent the 25th to 75th percentiles of enrolled students, meaning 25% of students score below 1210 and 25% score above 1470. This distribution indicates that Hunter College enrolls students across a spectrum of academic preparation while maintaining high standards. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with this range when building their college list, particularly since Hunter College combines academic selectivity with exceptional affordability and strong post-graduation outcomes.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
CUNY Hunter College enrolls a diverse student body that reflects both academic selectivity and commitment to accessibility. The institution enrolls 55.0% Pell-eligible students, indicating that more than half of students come from lower-income families earning under $50,000 annually. Additionally, 46.9% are first-generation college students, meaning nearly half have parents who did not complete bachelor's degrees. Transfer students represent 29.4% of enrollment, reflecting the institution's role in providing pathways for community college graduates and students seeking to change institutions. This composition demonstrates that Hunter College serves a predominantly working-class and immigrant population typical of New York City, while maintaining academic standards that attract students with strong test scores and academic preparation. The high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students distinguishes Hunter College from more elite institutions and reflects the CUNY system's mission of broad educational access. First-generation students should know that 46.9% of enrolled students share their background, providing a supportive peer community. Students from lower-income families should consider the 55.0% Pell share when assessing fit and campus culture. The substantial transfer enrollment indicates that Hunter College welcomes students from diverse educational backgrounds and pathways to degree completion.
Given Hunter College's 54% acceptance rate and strong academic profile, applicants should build balanced college lists that include backup options with higher acceptance rates and similar post-graduation value.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
CUNY Hunter College demonstrates mixed outcomes for student retention and completion, with notable differences between overall and Pell-eligible students. 80.0% of freshmen return for sophomore year, slightly below the peer median retention rate of 83.7%. The six-year graduation rate reaches 61.0%, also below the peer median completion rate of 65.9%. However, these figures reflect the challenges of serving a predominantly working-class student population in an expensive metropolitan area where many students work while attending college. Pell-eligible students graduate at 46.2%, creating a 14.8 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This gap indicates that lower-income students face additional challenges in degree completion, likely related to financial pressures and competing work obligations. Despite these completion challenges, graduates who do complete degrees achieve strong post-graduation outcomes, as evidenced by the institution's strong earnings performance and mobility rankings. Students who gain admission should expect institutional support for degree completion, though they should also prepare for the academic and financial challenges of attending college in New York City. Lower-income students should weigh the 14.8 point Pell gap when considering this institution, while also recognizing the strong economic outcomes for those who do graduate. Prospective students should view these retention and completion rates as indicators of the academic and financial challenges they may face, rather than limitations of institutional quality.
Similar quality tier (#23 ranked)
Higher acceptance rates with similar career outcomes.
Similar quality tier (#28 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#30 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#22 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#31 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#32 ranked)
Build a balanced list with schools at different selectivity and price points.
Explore More Schools