According to U.S. News and World Report, the entire state of New York has more than 130 four-year colleges, which is the most found in any state. Dozens of these colleges are found within the City University and State University systems of New York, which are two of the largest public university systems in the country. Some of the state's top colleges and universities are located specifically in New York City, so use this guide to learn more about them
Columbia University
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This private institution was founded in 1754 and is considered a world-leading center of research. Its central location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan makes it convenient to students, especially since it sits near the northern tip of Central Park and near Broadway. It has three undergraduate schools, including Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of General Studies. The school also has several professional and graduate schools, including the renowned College of Dental Medicine and graduate Journalism School.
A prestigious university, Columbia University has an acceptance rate of just 6%. Of its more than 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 36% of them come from outside the United States. The university is affiliated with the Barnard College for women, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the Union Theological Seminary. Some famous alumni from Columbia University include former president Barack Obama and John Jay who was a founding father and the first Supreme Court Justice.
CUNY - Hunter College
As part of the City College system in New York, CUNY - Hunter College is a public university that began in 1870 as a women's college. It later admitted its male freshmen in 1946. The college's main campus has remained on Park Avenue, just two blocks from Central Park, since 1873.
The school, which has an enrollment of about 23,000 students, offers more than 170 academic programs, with a large focus on the arts including dance, theater, music, and film. Non-native speakers can also utilize its International English Language Institute, which offers courses during the day, evenings, and on weekends. Famous people who graduated from CUNY - Hunter College include actor and singer Harry Connick, Jr., actress Rhea Perlman, and actor Vin Diesel.
Fordham University
With a total enrollment of around 15,000 students from more than 65 countries, Fordham University specializes in business as well as liberal arts and sciences. It's composed of 10 colleges with four for undergraduates and the remaining six for graduate students. The private university, which was founded in 1841, is the third-oldest university in the state and was originally named St. John's College by Bishop John Hughes. Its name was later changed to Fordham University for the Fordham neighborhood in the Bronx. The Roman Catholic church calls itself the Jesuit University of New York.
It has two main campuses with the Rose Hill campus found in the Bronx and the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan. The university also has a smaller campus located about 25 miles north of Manhattan in West Harrison. Some of the university's noteworthy alumni include actor Alan Alda, novelist Mary Higgins Clark, actor Denzel Washington, and former NFL coach Vince Lombardi.
New York University
Founded in 1831, New York University is a private institution that boasts a total enrollment of more than 27,000 students. The university is highly selective, with only about 13% of applicants accepted. Its primary campus is located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood found in Manhattan. It's known as a true city school since it doesn't possess any true borders that separate the campus from the streets of the city. The university itself has several schools and colleges, with the largest being the College of Arts and Sciences.
Over the years, the university has attracted a mix of creative types including writers, musicians, and artists. Most enroll in the university's Tisch School of Arts, and directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee as well as actors Adam Sandler and Donald Glover graduated from this school. The university also has more than 450 student clubs and organizations, many of which focus on entertainment, culture, and arts. In addition, the university was the home for some of the country's first fraternities when Psi Upsilon chartered its Delta Chapter in 1837.
Pace University
Pace University has its main campus located in New York City near the Financial District and a second one found in Westchester. It began in 1906 as a one-room accounting school and now has more than 12,000 students enrolled on its campuses. Of those students, more than 5,500 are enrolled in the New York campus with the remaining at the Westchester location.
Students can choose from more than 135 undergraduate and 85 graduate degree programs located in its six colleges and schools, with many focusing on liberal arts and sciences as well as theory. Noteworthy alumni include actress Yancy Butler and Richard Grasso who is the former CEO of the New York Stock Exchange.
Yeshiva University
Known as a research-focused school, Yeshiva University has four campuses scattered throughout the New York City area. Its main campus, known as Wilf Campus, sits in Washington Heights, while the Israel Henry Beren Campus is in Midtown Manhattan and the Brookdale Center is in Greenwich. You'll find the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus in the Bronx. It also has a campus in Israel, and more than 600 students study abroad at this location. The private university was founded in 1886, and today has an enrollment of more than 6,000 students.
While many of the students enrolled are of the Jewish faith, it's not a requirement. They can take courses in one of the 11 undergraduate and graduate schools. Attorney Nicholas Muzin and former Governor of Vermont Daniel C. Kurtzer both graduated from this university.
What do you think of the top New York City colleges and universities highlighted by Martin Busch Jewelers? Did we mention all of the schools you're familiar with? If not, reach out to us and let us know so we can add it to our list.