CUNY’s Got Big News and Big Opportunities!

Happy 2025! Whether you’re eagerly counting down to graduation or just thinking about college on the horizon, CUNY (The City University of New York) is doing some amazing things that you’ll want to know about. From exciting new programs to record-breaking application surges, here’s the rundown on what’s happening—and how you can take advantage.

1. Big Application Milestones

• Applications Are Booming
  CUNY just saw a whopping 13% increase in undergraduate applications year-over-year. And during a special fee waiver campaign this fall, freshman applications soared by 62% compared to last year. That means over 55,000 new applications!

• Growing Enrollment
  This is the second year in a row CUNY enrollment has gone up, with an impressive 3% total growth. Community colleges saw the biggest jump at 6%, and there was also a 4% rise in new grad students.

This growth is exciting because more students are discovering that CUNY offers top-tier education at a fraction of the cost of many private colleges.

2. Hot New Programs & Facilities

• CUNY School of Medicine
  The med school is becoming an independent college, meaning more flexibility in training diverse healthcare professionals—maybe that’s you in a few years!

• Lehman College Nursing Center
  Check this out: a brand-new 52,000-square-foot building just opened to train more nurses than ever before. With NYC’s high demand for healthcare workers, this is a huge deal if you’re thinking about a career in nursing.

• Pathways to Success
  CUNY is expanding programs that help you go from college straight into a great career. One standout initiative is the $11.8 million Inclusive Economy Initiative, teaming up with big names like BNY, Blackstone, Bloomberg, and Goldman Sachs to help launch students into professional success.

3. Student-Friendly Policies & Opportunities

• No More Commitment Fees (Community Colleges)
  Good news: CUNY has eliminated the commitment fee for community colleges. That’s one less obstacle between you and a quality education.

• CUNY Reconnect
  Over 40,000 New Yorkers who had some college credits but never finished have returned to complete their degrees—8,000 just this fall! If someone in your family or community has partial credits, let them know: there’s never been a better time to jump back in.

• High School Outreach
  To help you plan for your future, CUNY partnered with NYC Public Schools to send “Welcome to CUNY” letters to all seniors on track to graduate in 2025, making it super clear: we want you here!

4. Major Accomplishments & Funding

• Career Opportunities Explosion
  LaGuardia Community College got $116.2 million to create the Cohen Career Collective, which is a cutting-edge workforce training center. Translation? More hands-on learning and job placement help for you.

• Record-Breaking Research
  Faculty brought in $672 million in external funding, including a $75 million grant from the Simons Foundation for AI and computational science research. If STEM is your jam, you’ll be in good company.

Don’t Forget Your FAFSA!

Before you get too caught up in these exciting updates, make sure to file your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It’s the key to getting financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Even if you think you might not qualify, file anyway—you never know what opportunities might come your way.

Key FAFSA Tips:

1. Apply as early as possible to maximize your financial aid options.
2. Gather your documents (tax info, social security number, etc.) beforehand.
3. Use the CUNY school codes when filling it out, so CUNY automatically knows you’ve applied.