Spotlight On: CUNY Schools You Should Know

By ANNA SNISARENKO

Despite the unusual start to the school year, our seniors still face the same challenge: applying to college. Figuring out where you want to spend the next four (or more) years of your life takes a lot of time, especially when factoring in cost, distance, and the quality of education you’ll receive at different institutions. Many of the CUNY schools (The City University of New York) offer a great experience at a low cost, with a quick subway commute. Here are some you should look into.

First and foremost, the CUNY we’ve all inevitably seen: Brooklyn College. If you like your commute to Midwood, then you’re in luck; going to Brooklyn College would mean you wouldn’t have to worry about changing it at all. You’ll also get to keep the Midwood mini-United Nations vibe, as U.S. News & World Reports ranked Brooklyn College the most ethnically diverse college campus in the north region for the third year in a row.

“[We’re] dedicated to helping immigrant and first-generation students graduate,” the college’s website advertises, along with faculty mentorship, financial aid advisement, free legal services, and personalized counseling. They offer over 80 Bachelor’s Degree programs. And the icing on the cake? Their tuition, like all CUNYs, will only cost you about $3,400 per semester! Because of this value-for-your-dollar, Business Insider ranked Brooklyn College 11th in the nation for return on investment.

Next, let’s talk about a CUNY with its own an “annex” bridge, a high school, and a reputation for quality teaching: Hunter College. This school, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, provides great educational opportunities and has that same cheap CUNY tuition, only around $3,400 per semester. In fact, 75% of their students graduate debt-free. Hunter provides over 170 areas of study with a great faculty in each one. Princeton Review ranked Hunter College as one of the nation’s best 379 colleges, a list which only about 15% of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges were able to land on.

Photo: John Jay College of Criminal Justice

If you’re interested in law, this next one’s for you: The John Jay College of Criminal Justice. A beautiful college on the Upper West Side, John Jay specializes in all forms of criminal justice and forensics. It’s the best college for forensic psychology, which would be significantly more expensive elsewhere (again, only $3,400 per semester). It is among the most diverse of the CUNY’s senior colleges; the student body is 60% female, 40% Hispanic, and 25% African American. Their mission statement reads: “The breadth of our community motivates us to question our assumptions, to consider multiple perspectives, to think critically, and to develop the humility that comes with global understanding. We educate fierce advocates for justice.”

If you’re interested in high-quality education in business, Baruch may be the place for you. This college’s most popular majors are business, management, marketing, and social sciences. In fact, three-fourths of its undergraduate students study in the Zicklin School of Business. Baruch has been ranked #1 for its value by The Wall Street Journal. The university is incredibly diverse -- its students speak more than 110 languages and originate from over 170 countries. With that same low CUNY tuition, attending Baruch may be the best business decision you ever make.

And finally, a CUNY you probably haven’t heard much about: Bronx Community College. With a beautiful campus and tons of financial support for students, a trip to the Bronx just might be worth it. In fact, 72% of their students are covered by financial aid. This college is very diverse: 61% of its population is Hispanic/Latino, and 33% of its population is African American. It’s a great fall-back if you’ve been stressed in high school and are looking for a fresh start because, as a community college, it has a near-100% acceptance rate.

The City University of New York has over 25 campuses throughout the city’s boroughs. With 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, and another seven professional schools, you might at first feel overwhelmed by choice. Choose a major and look into which schools specialize in it. Do your research, take your shot at applying, and good luck!