


Courtesy of CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College opened in 1930 as a public, coeducational college in Brooklyn. Its founding brought together the Brooklyn branches of City College and Hunter College, giving the borough its own public college for undergraduate study.
The college became part of the City University of New York when CUNY was established in 1961. Its landscaped campus, developed during the 1930s, remains a distinguishing feature of an institution whose students are largely commuters. Brooklyn College has since expanded beyond its original liberal arts focus to offer graduate study and programs in business, education, the sciences, and the arts.
Brooklyn College organizes its academic programs across five schools: the School of Education; the Murray Koppelman School of Business; the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; and the School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts.
Undergraduates can explore fields such as accounting, biology, computer science, English, psychology, and film. The college also offers master's programs and other graduate credentials. This range matters for students considering a change of major or further study, but admission to the college does not necessarily establish eligibility for every specialized program. Teacher preparation, for example, involves requirements beyond selecting an education-related major.
Brooklyn College is primarily a bachelor's- and master's-degree institution. Applicants should check the current catalog for a program's degree level, prerequisites, and any separate application or professional requirements.
Brooklyn College is in the Flatbush-Midwood area of Brooklyn, New York, at 2900 Bedford Avenue. Although it sits within a major city, its main campus has a more defined, landscaped setting than a collection of buildings scattered across downtown streets.
Many students travel to campus by subway or bus. The Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College subway station, served by the 2 and 5 lines, is a useful reference point for planning a commute; actual travel times depend on the route and time of day. The location also gives students access to internships, cultural institutions, and employers across New York City, though those opportunities may require substantial travel outside class hours.
Brooklyn College describes its mission in terms of accessible public higher education, rigorous learning, research, creative work, and service to a diverse urban community. Its place within CUNY connects that purpose to the university system's broader commitment to providing educational opportunity in New York City.
In practical terms, the college combines liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Those are statements of institutional purpose, not evidence that every student will have the same academic experience or career outcome. Prospective students can evaluate how well a particular major advances those aims by examining its curriculum, course availability, and advising arrangements.
Name of the institution
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1930CUNY Brooklyn College is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificateData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.