List of Public Universities in New York State for Indian Students
The New York State houses two major types of public university systems: the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY). While SUNY universities operate at the state level, CUNY universities operate at the city level, as its name indicates. Together, these public university systems host the best academic, research, and networking opportunities for Indian students.
In this blog, we have discussed the public universities in New York, including their importance for international students, the benefits they offer, popular courses, and more.
- Top Benefits of Studying in Public Universities in New York State
- What are the Types of Public Universities in New York?
- State University of New York System (SUNY Universities)
- Popular SUNY Universities for Indian Students
- Popular Courses in the State University of New York System
- Eligibility Criteria to Study at the SUNY Universities
- Required Documents for SUNY Admissions
- How to Apply for the SUNY Universities?
- City University of New York System (CUNY Universities)
- Popular CUNY Universities for Indian Students
- Popular Courses in the CUNY Institutes
- Eligibility Criteria to Study at the CUNY Institutes
- Required Documents for SUNY Admissions
- How to Apply for the CUNY Universities?
- List of Best Public Universities in New York
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
Top Benefits of Studying in Public Universities in New York State
Studying at public universities in New York offers several benefits to international students, including Indians, which we have discussed below.
Affordable Tuition Fees
- Indian students can pursue their higher education at public universities in New York at a much more affordable cost compared to private institutions.
- Depending on the course level, programs, and universities, the average annual tuition fee in public universities in New York is around USD 19,000-50,000 or INR 16 Lakhs-43 Lakhs.
- On the other hand, the average annual tuition fee in private universities in New York is around USD 30,000-70,000 or INR 26 Lakhs-61 Lakhs.
Diverse Academic Programs
- New York is a hub for many industries, such as finance, technology, healthcare, and media.
- Institutions like SUNY Buffalo and Stony Brook University are leaders in innovation across these industries.
- The public universities in New York have strong connections with industries that facilitate students to pursue internships, co-op programs, and networking opportunities.
Research & Networking Opportunities
- Public universities in New York also provide a diverse range of academic programs to international students across multiple disciplines, such as STEM, computer science, finance, business management, humanities, arts, etc.
- This ensures students can find programs tailored to their academic and career goals.
What are the Types of Public Universities in New York?
New York hosts two major public university systems, the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY). These university systems hold prestigious value in New York’s higher education scenario. Let’s overview SUNY and CUNY systems along with their key features and popular institutes.
State University of New York System (SUNY Universities)
- The State University of New York (SUNY) system is a large and comprehensive network of public universities that is operated in New York.
- It comprises 64 campuses that include 14 university centres, 13 university colleges, 7 technology colleges, and 30 community colleges.
- It offers approximately 7,000 academic programs at bachelor’s and master’s levels in the fields of STEM, business management, healthcare, liberal arts, etc.Â
- The average tuition fees in the SUNY universities is around USD 20,000-50,000 or INR 17 Lakhs-43 Lakhs per year, depending on the course and university.
- The SUNY universities are accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.
Popular SUNY Universities for Indian Students
- Some of the popular SUNY universities for Indian students are tabulated below, along with their average tuition fees per year.Â
- The average tuition fees in these SUNY universities is around USD 18,000-25,000 or INR 15 Lakhs-21 Lakhs per year, depending on the course level and programs they offer
| SUNY Campus | Average Tuition Fees (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| University at Albany | USD 24,910 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Binghamton University | USD 24,910 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| University at Buffalo | USD 24,990 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Stony Brook University | USD 24,990 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Buffalo State University | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
| State University of New York at Canton | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
| SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
Popular Courses in the State University of New York System
The SUNY system offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across 64 institutions. Some of the most popular and in-demand programs are as follows.
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Big Data & Cloud Computing
- Biotechnology
- Business Management
- Computer Science & Engineering
- Entrepreneurship
- Fine Arts & Performing Arts
- History & Literature
- Law
- Political Science
- PsychologyÂ
Eligibility Criteria to Study at the SUNY Universities
The eligibility criteria for Indian students to study at the SUNY universities are as follows:
Academic Requirements
- For bachelor’s degree programs, Indian applicants must have at least 70-90% overall at the 10+2 level.Â
- For master’s degree programs, Indian applicants must have at least 70-85% overall at the bachelor’s level (3-4 years).
Required Documents for SUNY Admissions
- All previous academic transcripts
- 1 CV/Resume
- 1-2 Statements of Purpose
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- Standardised Test Scorecards (depending on course/study level)
- GMAT
- GRE
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo etc.
- ACT
- SAT
- Application Fee (depending on the university)
- WES Evaluation Report
- Work Experience Letter/Portfolio (if required)
- Certificate for Extracurricular Activities
- Passport
How to Apply for the SUNY Universities?
International students can apply for the State University of New York system at their common application portal. They can apply to multiple SUNY campuses and submit any required documents all in one place.
City University of New York System (CUNY Universities)
- The City University of New York (CUNY) is another university system after SUNY, and it comprises 25 campuses in New York City.
- It is the largest urban public university system in the USA.
- It includes 11 senior colleges, 7 community colleges, 1 honours college, and 7 graduate/professional schools.
- CUNY universities aim to provide affordable and high-quality education to their students.
- Currently, it offers over 1,800 academic programs across several fields, such as business management, engineering, liberal arts, humanities, arts, etc.
- On average, the tuition fees in CUNY universities are around USD 17,000-23,000 or 14 Lakhs-20 Lakhs per year, depending on the course level and academic program.
- The CUNY campuses are located within New York City’s 5 boroughs- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.
Popular CUNY Universities for Indian Students
- Some of the popular CUNY universities for Indian students are tabulated below, along with their average tuition fees per year.Â
- The average tuition fee in these CUNY colleges is around USD 14,654-24,910 or INR 12 Lakhs-21 Lakhs per year, depending on the course level and programs they offer.
| CUNY Campus | Average Tuition Fees (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| Baruch College | USD 14,654-19,000 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College | USD 17,000-24,910 (INR 14 Lakhs-21 Lakhs) |
| Brooklyn College | USD 17,588-18,600 (INR 15 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Hunter College | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| The City College of New York | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Queens College | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice | USD 14,654-17,010 (INR 12 Lakhs-14 Lakhs) |
Popular Courses in the CUNY Institutes
The CUNY system offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across 25 institutions. Some of the most popular and in-demand programs are as follows.
- Accounting & Finance
- Business Management
- Criminal Justice
- Computer Science & Information Security
- Data Science
- Education
- International Studies
- Journalism
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Health
Eligibility Criteria to Study at the CUNY Institutes
The eligibility criteria for Indian students to study at the CUNY colleges and universities are as follows:
Academic Requirements
- For bachelor’s degree programs, Indian applicants must have at least 70-90% overall at the 10+2 level.Â
- For master’s degree programs, Indian applicants must have at least 70-85% overall at the bachelor’s level (3-4 years).
Required Documents for SUNY Admissions
- All previous academic transcripts
- 1 CV/Resume
- 1-2 Statements of Purpose
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- Standardised Test Scorecards (depending on course/study level)
- GMAT
- GRE
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo etc.
- ACT
- SAT
- Application Fee (depending on the university)
- WES Evaluation Report
- Work Experience Letter/Portfolio (if required)
- Certificate for Extracurricular Activities
- Passport
How to Apply for the CUNY Universities?
- International students can apply for the City University of New York system at their common application portal.
- Undergraduate applicants can apply here
- Postgraduate applicants can apply here
List of Best Public Universities in New York
Below, we have tabulated the best public universities in New York under the SUNY and CUNY systems, along with their average tuition fees per year.
| Public University | Average Tuition Fees (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| University at Albany | USD 24,910 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Binghamton University | USD 24,910 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| University at Buffalo | USD 24,990 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Stony Brook University | USD 24,990 (INR 21 Lakhs) |
| Buffalo State University | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
| State University of New York at Canton | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
| SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | USD 18,822 (INR 16 Lakhs) |
| Baruch College | USD 14,654-19,000 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College | USD 17,000-24,910 (INR 14 Lakhs-21 Lakhs) |
| Brooklyn College | USD 17,588-18,600 (INR 15 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Hunter College | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| The City College of New York | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| Queens College | USD 14,654-18,600 (INR 12 Lakhs-16 Lakhs) |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice | USD 14,654-17,010 (INR 12 Lakhs-14 Lakhs) |
| Tuition Fees (Go8 universities) | 40,000-80,000 per year |
| Tuition Fees (Non-Go8 universities) | 23,000-40,000 per year |
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The public universities in New York are affordable and accessible to every student who desires to fulfill their dreams of studying in the USA. These universities are part of the system of the State University of New York and the City University of New York, which operate at the state and city levels.
The average cost of study in the public universities of New York differs depending on the course level, course and institute. On average, this costs around USDÂ USD 20,000-50,000 or INR 17 Lakhs-43 Lakhs per year.
FAQs
What is the #1 public university in New York for international students?
According to US News and World Report, Stony Brook University is the #1 public university in New York for its unique combination of academic rigour, research opportunities, and vibrant campus life that it offers to international students.
Are public universities free in New York?
The public universities in New York are not entirely free. However, their tuition fees are relatively very low compared to private institutions. Additionally, they offer scholarships and financial aid options to international students so that they can afford the cost of their studies.
How many public universities are there in New York?
Approximately 89 public institutions of higher learning currently operate in New York under the SUNY (64 institutions) and CUNY (25 institutions).
What are the most prestigious public universities in New York?
Some of the most prestigious public universities in New York are the University at Albany, Binghamton University, University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University, Buffalo State University, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, The City College of New York, and Queens College.
Are there any application fee waivers available for public universities in New York?
Yes, SUNY and CUNY institutions offer application fee waivers to needful candidates based on the following criteria.
- Applicants from low-income households
- Students in foster care
- Students with military connections
- AmeriCorps alumni
