Why Choose a Public College or University in New York?
According to the College Navigator published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there are 112 public schools in New York, including 61 public universities. Public colleges and universities in New York include Binghamton University, Stony Brook University, City University of New York (CUNY), State University of New York (SUNY), and Upstate Medical University.
Students may choose a public college or university because they seek diversity or want a school with a lot of activities. Public colleges and universities are usually large and have a lot more to offer in the way of student clubs than private schools. The social scene is often bustling as well.
In addition, public four-year colleges and colleges and universities tend to have lower tuition rates than private schools. Students who prefer a smaller school experience and more attention from professors may prefer a private school vs. a public school.
New York does not participate in any tuition reciprocity agreements for undergraduate students. However, some online colleges may offer in-state rates to out-of-state students. The best public schools in New York have relatively low in-state tuition rates for New York residents.
Pros and Cons of Attending a Public College or University in New York
Pros
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Public schools usually have more minority students, including international students.
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Due to the large size of public colleges and universities, there are usually more activities for students to participate in on campus.
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The cost of a public college or university is usually much lower than that of a private school.
Cons
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Students at public colleges and universities may have very little contact with their instructors.
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Students at public schools may feel lost in the crowd due to the institutions’ large size.
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Public colleges and universities may not be able to offer as much financial aid as private institutions.
Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Colleges and Universities in New York
Nonprofit colleges and universities reinvest their profits into the institution rather than paying them out. For-profit institutions are run by a board of directors and have an obligation to try to maximize the profit payout to the school’s owners or shareholders.
There are 110 for-profit colleges in the state of New York. For-profit colleges get their funding directly from their students’ tuition. Nonprofit and public colleges accept donations and endowments from benefactors in addition to charging tuition.
All public schools are nonprofit. Private colleges and universities can be either for-profit or nonprofit. You can determine whether a school is nonprofit or for-profit by using the NCES College Navigator.
There are many pros and cons of for-profit and nonprofit colleges and universities. For-profit colleges have higher acceptance rates and may offer more flexibility. However, they are usually more expensive than public colleges and may offer less support than private schools.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend a Public College or University in New York?
According to NCES, the average total cost of attending a four-year public institution in New York was about $23,880 for in-state students in 2019-2020. This figure includes about $8,470 in tuition and $15,410 for room and board. The average out-of-state tuition and fees for students at the same institutions were roughly $22,670 per year.
Other costs students should consider when choosing a school include books, supplies such as lab kits or computers, and transportation. Public institutions in New York charged an average of $32,690 less per year in 2019-2020 than private institutions.
Now let’s talk about the most and least expensive public colleges and universities in New York. The least expensive public university in New York is CUNY, which charges in-state tuition of $6,930 per year. Each CUNY school charges the same tuition rate. The most expensive is SUNY, which charges in-state tuition of $7,070 per year. Each SUNY school charges the same tuition rate.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Public Colleges and Universities in New York
How many public colleges and universities are there in New York?
There are 61 public institutions in New York, most of which are in the CUNY or SUNY systems. The CUNY system is a group of public schools located within New York City, and the SUNY system is a group of public schools located in the state of New York outside of New York City.
Although the schools are in the same system, some schools are harder to get into than others. In the SUNY system, the university centers have the lowest acceptance rates. Those schools are University at Albany, Binghamton University, University at Buffalo, and Stony Brook University.
What is the most expensive public college or university in New York?
The SUNY system is the most expensive public university system in New York, but it is not that expensive in comparison with other states’ university systems. In-state tuition is $7,070 per year, which is just $575 more per year than the maximum Pell Grant for 2021-2022. The tuition is the same regardless of which SUNY school you choose.
SUNY’s mission is to provide a high-quality, accessible education to the people of New York. The system’s relatively low tuition reflects its goal of easy access. The SUNY system contains 64 institutions, including university centers, comprehensive colleges, technology colleges, graduate degree-granting institutions, and community colleges.
What is the least expensive public college or university in New York?
The CUNY system is the least expensive public university system in New York, with in-state tuition of $6,930 per year. Every school in the system charges the same tuition rate. The CUNY system contains 25 schools, including four-year colleges; community colleges; and graduate, honors, and professional colleges.
The CUNY schools are located throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Together, they offer 1,750 degree programs and have an enrollment of over 240,000 undergraduate and 30,000 graduate students.
What is the biggest public college or university in New York?
SUNY is not only the biggest public university system in New York, but in the United States. It is made up of 64 schools and enrolls approximately 468,000 students. The system offers over 7,500 degree and certificate programs. The SUNY system was created to provide access to education to the people of New York.
SUNY encourages research through the SUNY Research Foundation, which spent $1.05 billion on research activity support in 2020. The foundation made 7,689 awards during the year.
Is a public college or university right for me?
Only you can decide whether a public or private college or university is right for you. It’s a good idea to narrow down your list of potential schools by finding out which schools offer the programs you’re interested in first. Then, you can consider factors like whether the college or university is public or private, whether it is close to home, and whether you can take classes online.
Keep in mind that public colleges and universities usually cost less than private schools and have more activities available for their students. However, you may get more individualized attention from your professors at a private college or university.
