Many colleges in New York are within the largest two state university systems. They are the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY). Colleges in New York range from large research universities to specialized schools. Let’s look at some NCES stats about the Empire State:
- New York is home to 251 four year colleges. 64% of them offer master's or doctorate degrees in addition to undergraduate studies.
- There are 205 two year community colleges. About 37% are public community colleges.
- Over the past 5 years New York colleges have seen a small 3.8% decrease in enrolled students. In 2017, 1,260,240 students were enrolled in college!
- In total, there were 226,685 degrees were awarded for the 2016 school year. About 62% of those awards were bachelor's degrees.
Salary Breakdown
College Scorecard tells us alums from Columbia University earn the highest average salary. 10 years after starting school, the average alum earns $96,400. Meanwhile, the 2018 mean annual wage earned in New York is $63,970. You do the math!
New York Tuition Program
New York offers several tuition savings programs to cover the cost of tuition. The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps NY residents to pay for tuition at an approved state school. TAP is a grant which awards up to $5,165. To be eligible, students must meet the income limit, maintain C average or above, and be fully enrolled in an approved NY state institution. The program also helps part-time students and students with an immigration visa.
Also, New York state government created a tuition free program if a student attends a SUNY or CUNY college. It's called the Excelsior Scholarship. The program covers up to $5,500 in tuition. The Excelsior Scholarship will help 200,000 or 52% of full time NY residents.
Also, there are several eligibility requirements. For example, families must meet the federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 and pursue an undergraduate degree at SUNY or CUNY college.
Top New York colleges ranked by total student population.
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Source for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.