The City College of New York was established as the Free Academy by wealthy merchant Townsend Harris in 1847 to serve poor immigrant men. This makes City College the oldest higher learning option within the 24-site City University of New York (CUNY) system. After admitting the first women in 1930, City College became co-educational to educate more than 13,100 undergraduates and 3,000 post-graduates annually. Endowed for $131 million, the City College of New York is a flagship senior, public research institution split into five divisions. With a 35-acre urban campus, CCNY sprawls across Convent Avenue in Manhattan’s Hamilton Heights neighborhood. City College has produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including Henry Kissinger and John O’Keefe.

According to the U.S. News, the City College of New York is the North’s 66th best college and 16th top public school. In particular, the Grove School of Engineering was crowned America’s 125th best engineering school. Forbes magazine ranked CCNY as the 62nd top public college nationally and 97th best university in the Northeast. The Princeton Review included City College within its “Colleges That Pay You Back.” The City College of New York made the Washington Monthly’s top 40 for best bang for the buck in the Northeast. PayScale reported that City has the United States’ 197th best 20-year net ROI at $440,000. It’s also the highest ranked CUNY school in the Center for World University Rankings.

The City College of New York Accreditation Details

Last reviewed in 2013, the City College of New York is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CIHE) of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). This regional accrediting body is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV funding. City College offers recognized bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees through the New York Department of Education (NYSDOE). The Grove School of Engineering is also accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The B.S. in Computer Science is specifically approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).

The City College of New York Application Requirements

With an acceptance rate of 34 percent, the City College of New York has a fairly competitive admission process. Entering the B.S. in Computer Science program will require completing a high school diploma. Scoring at least 3250 for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam is also acceptable. A maximum of 32 credits can be transferred with AP or IB courses too. Computer science majors must follow the 16-unit NYS Regents curriculum with four units of math and three units of science. On average, admitted CCNY students achieve a high school GPA of 3.32. Freshmen also report mean SAT scores of 1110 (excluding writing).

Undergraduate transfers are welcomed into City College’s community with at least 24 credits from regionally accredited colleges. If less, the above freshmen criteria holds true. Courses taken in the United States or abroad must be graded “C” or higher for transfer. Preference is given to B.S. in Computer Science applicants meeting prerequisites in calculus, biology, physics, English composition, and linear algebra. Maintaining a minimum college GPA of 2.7 is suggested. Graduates with A.A. or A.S. degrees from CUNY-system schools are exempt from general education. Only 90 credits can be transferred, and CLEP exams don’t qualify. International students on F-1 visa must score at least 550 on the TOEFL or equivalent.

Before the Grove School’s deadlines on May 1st and November 15th, interested students should apply to the City College of New York by submitting:

• Online CUNY application form
• Check or money order for $65 fee
• Original high school and/or college transcripts
• Standardized testing scores (SAT or ACT)
• One-page, typed personal statement
• Two sealed letters of recommendation
• Verification of English proficiency (if foreign)

Tuition and Financial Aid

New York State residents enrolling full-time as undergraduates at City College will pay $3,165 per semester or $6,330 each year. Part-time NYS residents are charged $275 per credit. Non-residents will pay $560 per undergraduate credit taken regardless of enrollment status. This typically equates to $13,799 yearly for full-time, out-of-state learners. Bachelor’s students must pay the $63.50 activity fee. Room and board is estimated to cost $14,799 annually. CCNY suggests budgeting an additional $5,262 per year for textbooks, supplies, and personal expenses. Total annual cost of attendance is $28,114 (in-state) and $35,224 (out-of-state).

The NCES reports that 88 percent of beginning, full-time CCNY students earn aid. Financial assistance packages are worth $7,861 on average. Computer science majors could qualify for institutional awards, such as the Belle Zeller Scholarship, Grove Scholarship, Mini-Circuits Scholarship, and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. There’s also the Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) program. Financially needy students could obtain the Federal Pell Grant or FSEOG Grant. New Yorkers should apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or NYS Aid for Part-Time Study. Computer science is eligible for the STEM Incentive Program too. On-campus Federal Work-Study (FWS) is available for students enrolled in 6+ credits. Students may borrow low-interest Federal Perkins, Stafford, or PLUS loans.

Accredited Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degree

The City College of New York houses a B.S. in Computer Science program within its ABET-accredited Grove School of Engineering. Enrolling over 340 students, the bachelor’s strives to produce conscientious computer scientists for solving technical computing challenges. The liberal arts foundation progresses to study the storage, retrieval, and analysis of digital information in secure computer networks. Since 1968, the Computer Science Department has remained a leading innovator in technology. Students benefit from hands-on experience in City College’s 132-node Beowulf Cluster called Wildebeest. Research opportunities are ongoing in the cutting-edge Center for Algorithms and Interactive Scientific Software (CAISS). Students complete a two-semester senior research project in their culminating year.

Consisting of 126 credits, the B.S. curriculum is heavily math and science focused. Majors can expect coursework in discrete mathematics, chemistry, physics, probability, algorithms, software design, statistics, operating systems, programming, computer architecture, and more. Electives range from specializations like cybersecurity to human-computer interaction. The student-faculty ratio of 14:1 allows for individualized mentoring with world-class computer scientists. One professor recently received a $2 million EFRI Mind, Machines, and Motor Control (M3C) research grant. B.S. majors could also participate in the CUNY IT Specialists Internship Program. Graduates often continue into the M.S. in Computer Science or Ph.D. in Computer Science programs at the City College of New York.

Another excellent resource:

The Top 10 Best Online Schools for Computer Science Degrees