7 Cheapest Colleges in New York

The price for education or colleges is increasing geometrically, and searching for the cheapest colleges in New York is not just a great choice but it’s necessary. Going for the cheapest doesn’t mean it will provide poor education to you or your ward (at least the list we’ll provide you with soon, will give you the best for the most affordable). 

In the United States, New York is one of the States that spends a lot of money on each student in public education. The public school, at the range of 6 and 17 ages, began its history far back to the colonial period.

In fact, the first school was established by the Church with the help of the government in 1638 in New Amsterdam. 

Then, in 1754, New York City had its first college, Columbia University. Which is also the fifth oldest college in the United States.

New York City is housing more than 230 private higher institutions. The cheapest colleges in New York are also amongst them.

New York is globally known for its innovation, creativity, and culture, moreover, it is a state that is known for its fast-paced lifestyle. New York currently has more than 400 colleges, which makes it a good state to get a degree.

In 2017, New York recorded over 100,000 international students, that is, 11% of international students in the U.S. This proves that many students prefer to study in NYC in the country.

There are lots of people of different religions and nationalities, making New York a fun state to learn about diverse cultures. Speaking of fun, you’ll never get bored in this state.

There are more than 110 individuals from different countries residing in New York. Making it one of the states with the most international people.

There are lots of activities going on, in, within, and outside colleges (whether in the day or night). NYC is known as the “City That Never Sleeps.”

There are world-class museums, award-winning restaurants. For the love of skydiving, you can have a risk-free experience in their in-door skydiving in iFly Westchester.

Or on your lecture-free days, take a helicopter tour to view the beauty of the state.

Further, NY is housing more than 50 Fortune 500 companies, making it a state to easily acquire industrial knowledge. It’s easy to get internship opportunities from some of these multi-billion companies.

The experience and learning will be life-changing. 

Also, if you’re a bookworm, you will breathe amazing book-air from New York. Because there are about 100 public libraries to explore. 

There is just no book you can’t find in them. And, their serenity makes it heaven on earth.

So, studying in NY, whether it is in the cheapest colleges in New York, will be an extraordinary experience.

In addition, if the college you desire for yourself or your child is not here, most universities in New York offer financial aid, which includes scholarships, federal student aid. The cost of education is not really that expensive if you research well.

Also, the average cost for an undergraduate residing in New York to study in CUNY (City University of New York) is $6,930. While SUNY (State University of New York) is $7,070 then $43,000 for a private university.

For undergraduates away from NY or international students, their average cost to study in the CUNY is $18,600, SUNY is $16,980 then for private universities the student will pay $63,830.

Again, the average tuition fee for CUNY graduate students that reside in New York is $5,545/semester. While international graduate students will need to pay $855/credit.

These costs vary based on schools.

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Cheapest Colleges in New York

Here is the list of the cheapest colleges in New York.

  • New York City College of Technology
  • The College of Staten Island
  • The City College of New York
  • York College
  • Brooklyn College
  • Lehman College, Cuny
  • Queens College, CUNY

1. New York City College of Technology

City Tech is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that was established in the middle 1900s and later became part of CUNY in 1964. It has more than 375 full-time faculties and over 1,100 part-time faculties, and it’s a public college.

Most importantly, 80% of their new freshmen receive need-based help, and 67% of students that continue receive need-based help.

There are lots of financial aids that City Tech offers. To mention a few; 

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • NYS TAP Grant
  • Federal Perkins Loan (FPL)
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
  • Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)
  • Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP)

Federal grants or any other grants provided by the university don’t require refunding. As for loans (like any other loan), must be repaid. 

Also, City Tech is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that made scholarships available outside financial aid. Some of these scholarships are given by City Tech’s Foundation, some through grants given to the college.

For you to be eligible for their scholarship you must have been admitted to the college and there is proof of your academic strength. And, your eligibility will always be scanned as you continue to study in the college.

City Tech focuses on baccalaureate and associate degrees for technological education.

City Tech Tuition fee

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Senior citizens — $65 per semester or session.
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $6,485 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $550 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit

Visit City Tech Official Website

2. The College of Staten Island

CSI is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that offers a four-year degree. It runs both undergraduate and graduate programs. They also offer Certificate courses and continuing education programs.

Just like most public colleges, the College of Staten Island runs a two-semester pattern. And, they offer day, evening, and weekend classes to suit your schedule.

Further, to make education accessible to you, they also offer off-campus courses.

CSI is one of the newest public colleges, it was established in 1994. Though new, it was built on the biggest physical CUNY site.

In addition, the college is built on Staten Island. It has over 300 lecture rooms for studies, has lots of laboratories, study lounges, and many other buildings to make you learn effectively.

It offers over 30 Master’s degree courses and has over 400 dormitory rooms. Moreover, more than 80 students from different countries come to CSI to learn.

CSI has lots of locations for easy accessibility, which includes; CSI Willowbrook, CSI St. George, and CSI Tech Incubator.

CSI is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that was named amongst the 2019 best colleges in America by MONEY magazine.

CSI also has its financial aid services and scholarship programs.

CSI Tuition Fee

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Senior citizens — $65 per semester or session.
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $6,485 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $550 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit 

Visit CSI Official Website

3. The City College of New York

CCNY is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that is located in the heart of NYC. It was established in 1847, since then, it has provided an affordable college to New Yorkers, the United States, and international students.

Moreover, the Chronicle of Higher Education found them worthy to rank them #1 out of 369 other public colleges in the U.S. This proves that their cheap tuition fee is not affecting their quality of education.

Also, the Center for World University Rankings chose the City College of New York to be amongst the top 1.2% of colleges worldwide that provide academic excellence.

Over 16,000 students from all over the world come to CCNY to acquire both graduate and undergraduate degrees in their 8 professional schools. Their 50 master’s program helps their students or other students to become professionals in their specific field and even earn higher degrees after completing their master’s.

CCNY is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that allows its students to perform so much research with their professors. And, students are free to publish their work.

Further, CCNY is one of the universities dominating in funded research. There are lots of research centers in the university and they are still building more (2 of them recently).

Their lecturers have PhDs and they are also practicing in their specific field in the labor market. For instance, their film lecturers are producers of films and so are their art lecturers producers of artworks. 

CCNY is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that welcomes diversity. They have over 150 students from different countries.

If you need financial aid, CCNY also offers that opportunity. You need to apply a year prior to the next academic year. For instance, if you need financial aid for your studies in 2023, you need to apply in 2022.

There are options to choose either federal or state funds. There are also funds provided by special programs, CUNY, and even the college, this is just for you to have an excellent education by all means.

Note that, most of their funds require good educational prowess, especially a scholarship program.

CCNY Tuition Fee

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $6,485 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $550 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $945 per Credit

Visit CCNY Official Website

4. York College

York College is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that has excellent lecturing in health professions, business, and aviation management. They have produced great students from these fields and other programs.

Their college religiously encourages student engagement, especially amongst different ethnicities. And they do this by making them involved in extracurricular activities which increases rapport and teamwork.

To maintain their zero tolerance for racism and discrimination, they have an office dedicated to accepting diversity complaints and carrying out investigations. This helps students of different cultures and nations to thrive in another land.

They currently house over 50 foreign students, from different countries. Knowing that moving from another country to New York is a different ball game, they have prepared an international student advisor to guide you through.

Their athletic activities are amazing, and their social clubs promote strong student relationships and improve their professional skills. Furthermore, their alumni help the college to foster its mission by investing their time, skill, and money.

Tuition Fee

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $5,545 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $470 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit

Visit York College Official Website

5. Brooklyn College

With over 170 academic programs, Brooklyn College is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that provide excellent studies to undergraduate and graduate students.

They provide a conducive environment for student engagement, and through teamwork, these students produce great research works. They are very innovative like New York.

Their art faculty is one of the leading colleges in the country. They go on to produce great dancers, amazing musicians, superb visual artists.

Also, they are housing over 23,000 students offering different programs. And, Brooklyn College is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that have 75% of students that graduate without debt.

They have a culture of helping their students succeed, through their teachings, funds, and scholarships. They also make sure to admit students of any background, culture, and ethnicity.

Brooklyn College Tuition Fees

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $5,545 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $470 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit

Visit Brooklyn College Official Website 

6. Lehman College, Cuny

Lehman college is an influential college with over 90,000 alumni and 15,000 students. And has more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs.

It is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that has won lots of awards.

Including #1 in NYS for its online RN-BSN by RegisteredNursing.org; #1 in U.S. NEWS and World Report in Student Debt Load Graduation-least Debt; #3 in Highest Mobility Rate in the Nation by The Chronicle of Higher Education; Top 10% for Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly.

Lehman College first opened its doors to students in 1968 as a public university.

Lehman’s Tuition Fee

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $5,545 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $470 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit

Visit Lehman College’s Official Website

7. Queens College, CUNY

Queens College is one of the cheapest colleges in New York that has over 20,000 students to lecture in the undergraduate, graduate, internship, and professional programs. 

Moreover, for 28 successive year they have appeared in the Princeton Review as the “Best Value” college. U.S. News and World Report also found them worthy to add to the list of the “Best Value College” ranking.

To spice it all, the Equality of Opportunity Report, chose Queens College amongst the top 1% of all colleges in moving students from poverty to prosperity. And they are the highest college that produced graduates that went on to become principals, lecturers, and counselors for public schools in New York.

Their Tech Faculty is outstanding and has produced lots of amazing graduates. Moreover, their art faculty has remarkable graduates, including Alumni that have received more than 100 Grammy Awards and Nominations.

Because of their academic prowess and teaching excellence they have recorded more than 150 students from different countries.

The Summit,” Queens College residence hall, which was opened in 2009 now has almost 500 residences in it. And, it has earned LEED Gold Certification from U.S. Green Building Council.

Queens College Tuition

Undergraduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $3,465 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $305 per Credit
  • Non-degree resident students: $445 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $620 per Credit
  • Non-degree non-resident students: $915 per Credit

Graduate Tuition

  • Full-time resident students: $5,545 per Semester
  • Part-time resident students: $470 per Credit
  • Full-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit
  • Part-time non-resident students: $855 per Credit

Visit Queens’ College Official Website

Conclusion

From the cheapest colleges in New York, you’ll notice that their fees are almost the same. And each university is unique in its special way.

Some Universities have a discipline they are best at, while others have an environment that accommodates excellent learning. So make sure you go through them and choose the one that best suits 

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