Best Community Colleges in NYC: CUNY Transfer, Tuition & Programs for 2026
GradeToGrad Editorial Team
March 30, 2026
Compare NYC community colleges from $5,020 at Hudson County CC to $6,398 at Rockland. CUNY's Excelsior Scholarship makes tuition free for families under $125K.
Why Community College in NYC?
New York City's community college system is dominated by CUNY (City University of New York) — one of the nation's largest public university systems serving over 240,000 students. CUNY community colleges charge $5,170-5,252/year for in-city residents, and New York's Excelsior Scholarship can make tuition completely free for families earning under $125,000/year.
The transfer infrastructure is strong: CUNY community college students can transfer to CUNY senior colleges (Hunter, Baruch, City College, Brooklyn College) with guaranteed credit transfer, and programs like ASAP and ACE provide wrap-around support to keep students on track.
CUNY Community Colleges
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)
Tuition: $5,170/year | Enrollment: 16,850 | Location: Tribeca, Manhattan
The largest CUNY community college, located in Lower Manhattan. Strong nursing program (ADN graduates earn $81,311/year), business, and liberal arts transfer tracks. The Tribeca location provides easy access via multiple subway lines. 6-year earnings: $31,688.
Kingsborough Community College
Tuition: $5,252/year | Enrollment: 7,632 | Location: Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn
The only CUNY campus directly on the waterfront. Strong nursing program ($80,980 ADN earnings), marine technology, and tourism/hospitality programs. 6-year earnings: $31,533.
Bronx Community College
Tuition: $5,206/year | Enrollment: 5,766 | Location: University Heights, Bronx
Nursing ADN graduates earn $89,270/year — second highest among CUNY CCs. Located on a historic hilltop campus designed by Stanford White. Strong health sciences and engineering transfer programs. 6-year earnings: $33,072.
Hostos Community College
Tuition: $5,208/year | Enrollment: 4,883 | Location: South Bronx
The standout for nursing: ADN graduates earn $97,888/year — the highest of any CUNY community college. Strong bilingual (English/Spanish) programs serving the South Bronx community. Also offers dental hygiene and radiological technology. 6-year earnings: $34,095.
Guttman Community College
Tuition: $5,194/year | Enrollment: 1,054 | Location: Midtown Manhattan
CUNY's newest and smallest CC, designed as an intensive first-year experience. All students take a structured curriculum with built-in advising. Small class sizes. 6-year earnings: $30,787.
Suburban Community Colleges
Nassau Community College (Garden City, Long Island)
Tuition: $6,330/year | Enrollment: 10,817
The largest community college on Long Island. Strong nursing ($89,190 ADN earnings), criminal justice, and business programs. Excellent transfer rates to SUNY and private Long Island universities (Hofstra, Adelphi, LIU).
SUNY Westchester Community College (Valhalla)
Tuition: $5,696/year | Enrollment: 7,788
Serves Westchester County with strong transfer rates to SUNY schools and Pace University. 6-year earnings: $35,539 — highest among NYC-area CCs. Good option for students north of the city.
Rockland Community College (Suffern)
Tuition: $6,398/year | Enrollment: 4,180
Nursing ADN graduates earn $89,747/year. Located in Rockland County northwest of NYC, serving students who want a suburban campus with NYC-area job access.
Hudson County Community College (Jersey City, NJ)
Tuition: $5,020/year | Enrollment: 6,386
The cheapest option near NYC. Located in Jersey City with easy PATH train access to Manhattan. Nursing graduates earn $75,226/year. Strong for students living in NJ but planning to work in NYC.
Essex County College (Newark, NJ)
Tuition: $5,346/year | Enrollment: 5,643
Serves Newark and surrounding Essex County. Nursing graduates earn $74,320/year. Transfer agreements with Rutgers-Newark and NJCU.
Transfer Pathways
Within CUNY (Seamless Transfer)
CUNY has a unified transfer system — credits earned at any CUNY community college transfer directly to CUNY senior colleges:
- Pathways Curriculum: A common general education core across all CUNY schools. Complete it at a CC, and it transfers fully to any senior college.
- Associate Degree Transfer: Students earning an AA or AS are guaranteed 60 credits toward their bachelor's at any CUNY senior college.
- Popular transfer destinations: Hunter College, Baruch College (top business school), Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Queens College
CUNY ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs)
A nationally recognized program that doubles graduation rates:
- Tuition gap coverage (after financial aid)
- Free textbooks and MetroCards (unlimited subway/bus)
- Intensive academic advising
- Career development support
ASAP students graduate at roughly double the rate of non-ASAP students — one of the most successful community college interventions in the country.
CUNY ACE (Accelerate, Complete, Engage)
The transfer-student version of ASAP. For students moving from CUNY CC to a CUNY senior college:
- Tuition scholarship support
- Textbook stipends
- Academic advising
- Available at Hunter, City College, York, Queens, Staten Island, and NYC College of Technology
SUNY Transfer
CUNY CC credits also transfer to SUNY schools. The SUNY Transfer Path provides course-by-course guidance for seamless transfer to any SUNY campus.
Cost & Financial Aid
Excelsior Scholarship (Free Tuition)
New York's Excelsior Scholarship covers full tuition at any CUNY or SUNY school for families earning under $125,000/year. Requirements:
- Enroll full-time (12+ credits per semester)
- Complete 30 credits per year
- Be a NYS resident
- Live and work in NYS after graduation for the same number of years you received the scholarship
Since CUNY CC tuition is already $5,170-5,252/year, Excelsior plus Pell can make community college effectively free with money left over for books and transit.
Other Aid
- NY TAP: Up to $5,665/year for NYS residents (often covers full CC tuition alone)
- Federal Pell Grant: Up to $7,395/year — exceeds CC tuition
- CUNY ASAP support: MetroCards, textbooks, tuition gap coverage
- NYC-specific scholarships: Various borough-based and community foundation scholarships
Bottom line: Most NYC students from families earning under $125K can attend CUNY community college completely free.
Cost Comparison
| Path | 4-Year Total | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years at NYU | $241,752 | $60,438/yr |
| 4 years at Hunter | $29,528 | $7,382/yr |
| 2yr CUNY CC + 2yr Hunter | $25,104 | $5,200 then $7,382 |
| With Excelsior Scholarship | $0 tuition | Free |
Best Programs by Field
Nursing: Hostos CC ($97,888 earnings), Bronx CC ($89,270), BMCC ($81,311)
Business Transfer: BMCC or Harold Washington → Baruch College (top public business school nationally)
STEM/Engineering: Bronx CC or BMCC → City College of New York (Grove School of Engineering)
Health Sciences: Hostos (dental hygiene, radiology), Kingsborough (health info tech)
Creative Arts: BMCC (media arts), LaGuardia CC (performing arts, commercial photography)
How to Choose
| Priority | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Nursing (highest earnings) | Hostos CC ($97,888/yr) |
| Manhattan location | BMCC (Tribeca) or Guttman (Midtown) |
| Brooklyn | Kingsborough CC |
| Bronx | Bronx CC or Hostos |
| Long Island | Nassau CC |
| New Jersey (cheapest) | Hudson County CC ($5,020/yr) |
| Best post-grad earnings | Westchester CC ($35,539 at 6yrs) |
| Transfer to Hunter/Baruch | Any CUNY CC (Pathways curriculum) |
Next Steps
Compare NYC community colleges on GradeToGrad — tuition, transfer rates, and programs for every school.
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