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.
New York City's community college system is dominated by CUNY — one of the nation's largest public university systems serving over 240,000 students.
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.
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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.