The City College of New York has a storied history: Originally called the Free Academy, it was founded in the 1800s to educate underprivileged students and the children of immigrants. Centuries later, CCNY still prides itself on effecting social change. Its president says the Manhattan campus is "a place where all people are welcome, protected, and celebrated."
The majority of the roughly 12,000 undergraduate students are from New York City, but they still come from a variety of backgrounds. The Immigrant Student Center for Resources helps first-generation immigrants and students with undocumented status, who can qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid. Students can pick from a variety of majors, including anthropology, earth and atmospheric sciences, engineering and music.
Alumni say that although classes can be hard, professors care about student success. The libraries are stacked, too, with more than 1.6 million print volumes — the largest library system within the City University of New York system. Outside of class, students can participate in 14 NCAA Division III teams and more than 100 clubs, among them an esports club, stock market club, and Humanizing Homelessness club.
