New York

New York is enriched with an extensive system of public and private universities, training colleges, medical schools, business schools and art schools, which make it a premier study destination. New York City is the largest urban area of America. Comprised of a series of neighbourhoods, New York is a real melting pot of America – a city of diversity where people have come from all over the world to build their lives and enhance their education.

The Structure Of Higher Education in New York State

The University of the State of New York embraces all education in New York State, public and private, from pre-kindergarten through to post-doctoral. The higher education portion of The University of the State of New York consists of 271 public, independent, and proprietary degree-granting institutions. The degree-granting institutions comprise: two public university systems, The State University of New York and The City University of New York, 146 independent colleges and universities and 42 proprietary colleges.

The State University of New York (SUNY) www.suny.edu

SUNY is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York State. Established in 1948, SUNY is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States with 64 campuses State-wide. The SUNY system has 6,650 degree and certificate programs overall. SUNY divides its campuses into four distinct categories: university centres/doctoral-granting institutions, university colleges, technology colleges, and community colleges.

34 campuses are fully State-operated
13 campuses offer study through the doctorate (including four comprehensive universities)
14 campuses offer undergraduate and Master's degree
7 campuses offer programs at baccalaureate level
There are 30 community colleges, one of which offer baccalaureate and master's degree programs, the rest are two-year colleges.

The City University of New York (CUNY) www.cuny.edu

CUNY and SUNY are separate and independent university systems, although both are public institutions, which receive funding from New York State.

CUNY is the public university system of New York City. Established in 1961, it is the largest urban university in the US consisting of 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, a doctorate-granting graduate school, a journalism school, a law school and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

CUNY has three different types of institutions:

Senior Colleges: Bachelor's degrees and occasionally Masters and Associates degrees
Community Colleges: Associate's degrees
Graduate/Professional Schools

CUNY's Law School grants Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees, and Ph.D. degrees are awarded only by the CUNY Graduate Centre.

Independent Universities and Colleges

There are 146 independent colleges and universities in New York. These are private, not-for-profit universities and colleges. There are 190 main and branch campuses in total. Most of the independent institutions are members of a corporation called the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of the State of New York

37 offer study through the doctorate (including 12 comprehensive universities)
79 offer the baccalaureate and/or masters degree
30 are two-year colleges

Proprietary Colleges

The 42 proprietary colleges are for-profit, private institutions. Most specialize in the fields of business and commerce. Proprietary colleges are operated by their owners or investor and receive no direct State aid. Students wishing to attend a proprietary college should consider the institution's accreditation. Most proprietary colleges are members of a corporation called the Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC)