What Are the CUNY Schools?

The City University of New York (CUNY) comprises 25 colleges spread throughout the five boroughs of New York City (NYC). The largest urban university network in the country, CUNY schools enroll more than 225,000 students and award over 50,000 degrees annually.

While CUNY makes postsecondary education more accessible for students in NYC, picking between the schools can be difficult.

We’ll dive into the CUNY system, look at the individual CUNY colleges, and offer tips for choosing a school and applying.

The CUNY system began with the founding of the Free Academy in 1847 — the first free public university in the country. More than 175 years and two dozen new campuses later, the CUNY system continues its tradition of putting education within reach of NYC learners.

CUNY students have access to community colleges, four-year programs, graduate degrees, online learning, and on-campus housing. The system’s schools and programs emphasize NYC-specific issues and workforce development — leading to over 80% of graduates remaining in the city.

The CUNY schools are a cornerstone of New York higher education, explains Lonnie Woods, a college admissions expert and professor at Columbia University. CUNY prides itself on being inclusive and diverse, says Woods. It serves as a vital force for enhancing social mobility and plays a fundamental role in the heartbeat of New York City.

The CUNY application process is easy and accommodating. Once you have narrowed down your search to a handful of schools, visit the CUNY application portal to get started. Follow these steps to complete the application.

All undergraduate CUNY applications must include complete high school transcripts. Other supporting documents may include extracurricular achievements, recommendation letters, and personal statements or essays.

Applications to Baruch College, Hunter College, and Queens College require essays on specific topics.

Through the spring of 2025, submitting your SAT/ACT scores is optional.

As a freshman, CUNY’s One Application allows you to apply to up to six CUNY colleges at once. You can also select the Macaulay Honors Application for consideration at one of eight CUNY schools with honors programs.

The majority of CUNY schools have either rolling admission throughout the year or a February 1st deadline for the fall semester and a September 15th deadline for the spring semester.

There are a few CUNY schools that have unique deadlines to pay attention to.

The CUNY application costs $65 for first-year students and $70 for transfer students. Fee waivers may be available for current CUNY students, veterans, and applicants who are either unemployed or using public assistance.

There are 25 CUNY schools, including at least one in each of the five NYC boroughs. The CUNY system started with the City College New York (formerly the Free Academy) and most recently added the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.

The top-ranked CUNY school varies by the organization doing the ranking, but Baruch College has a reputation as being one of the best CUNY schools in many ways.

Brooklyn College and the City College of New York also receive top marks from students and employers.

There are a few differences between CUNY and the State University of New York (SUNY). One of the most notable is that CUNY schools are located in NYC, while SUNY schools are located throughout the state of New York. SUNY has 64 campuses in total, but none are located in NYC.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the title for biggest CUNY college belongs to Hunter College, with nearly 23,000 students.

In terms of land size, the College of Staten Island is the largest, with a campus size of over 200 acres.

Among CUNY schools, the lowest tuition rates come from the CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). According to the NCES, the BMCC’s 2021-22 tuition rates and fees were $5,170 for in-state students and $8,050 for out-of-state students.