How to get into CUNY
What 53 admitted applicants actually had: their grades, test scores, activities, awards and intended majors, counted from 72 CUNY results that students posted for the 2017 to 2026 cycles. Every number below is counted, not estimated.
Applying to CUNY? Book a free call with a Specialist to see how your student’s file compares.
CUNY admits by the numbers
Median unweighted GPA
3.90
Middle half 3.70 to 4.00
Median SAT
1,420
Middle half 1,360 to 1,505
Median ACT
34
Middle half 32 to 34
Median weighted GPA
4.10
Middle half 3.90 to 4.39
Results posted: 53 admitted, 14 rejected, 5 waitlisted. People who post results are a self-selected group, so this is not the CUNY acceptance rate; the official rate is in CUNY’s Common Data Set.
Admitted vs. rejected: grades are not the difference
| Median | Admitted | Rejected |
|---|---|---|
| SAT | 1,420 | 1,485 |
When the rejected applicants’ numbers sit this close to the admitted ones, the decision was made somewhere else in the file: the activities, the essays and the letters. That is where the rest of this page looks.
What CUNY admits did outside class
Share of admitted applicants listing at least one activity of each type.
- Nonprofit/Service70%
- Work/Job45%
- Tutoring/Teaching43%
- Athletics42%
- Internship36%
- Arts25%
- Journalism/Writing25%
- Coding/Tech23%
Held a leadership role
77%
Founded something
38%
National or intl. award
49%
Did research
23%
Intended majors of CUNY admits
- Computer Science19%
- Engineering15%
- Political Science9%
- Business8%
- English/Writing6%
- Pre-med/Health6%
Who got in
Of the admitted posters, 36% first-generation, 36% low income, 43% underrepresented minority, 9% legacy, 0% recruited athlete and 2% international. Of those who said where they enrolled, 5% chose CUNY.
Three recent CUNY admits
2026 cycle · EA · Computer Science
Women in STEM and CS leader who built clubs, a hackathon, and a study-space website.
GPA 3.90 UW · SAT 1520 · Original post
2026 cycle · RD · English/Writing
Theater performer and faith-based youth leader who co-founded a music ministry for NYC Christian teens.
GPA 4.00 UW · SAT 1530 · Original post
2026 cycle · Engineering
Chemical engineering applicant blending materials research, scouting, caregiving, music, and theatre.
GPA 3.50 UW · SAT 1410 · Original post
Where else CUNY admits got in
CUNY admissions questions
- What GPA do you need to get into CUNY?
- Among 53 applicants who posted a CUNY admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.90 and the middle half reported 3.70 to 4.00 (29 reported a GPA). CUNY sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.
- What SAT score do you need for CUNY?
- Among 53 applicants who posted a CUNY admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,420 and the middle half scored 1,360 to 1,505 (38 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 34.
- What extracurriculars do CUNY admits have?
- The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (70%), work/job (45%), tutoring/teaching (43%), athletics (42%). 77% held at least one leadership role and 49% listed a national or international award.
- What is the CUNY acceptance rate?
- The official rate is published by CUNY in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.
Applying to CUNY?
A Specialist who got into a school like CUNY can read your student’s file against these numbers and say where it stands out and where it doesn’t.
Source: self-reported results posts on r/collegeresults, each linked from our Database, counted across the 2017 to 2026 cycles with transfer applicants excluded. Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with CUNY. All colleges