CUNY Graduate School and University Center

What is the accreditation of CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

CUNY Graduate School and University Center is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, or MSCHE. Institutional accreditation evaluates the institution as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval that may apply to a particular professional program.

For students, institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when another institution reviews transfer credit. It does not guarantee that another college will accept a course, or that a degree satisfies professional-licensing requirements. Applicants considering a regulated profession should check the accreditation and licensing rules for the specific program and credential, especially where instruction or clinical training involves another CUNY college.

What are the admission requirements at CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

Admissions requirements depend heavily on the program and applicant category. Graduate Center doctoral and master's applicants generally apply to a specific program and submit prior college transcripts and a statement of academic purpose; programs may also request recommendations, a writing sample, a résumé or other discipline-specific materials.

There is no useful institution-wide SAT score or high-school GPA threshold for judging admission to a Graduate Center Ph.D. Most doctoral applicants need a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. Graduate entrance-test policies, English-proficiency documentation and deadlines vary by program and admissions cycle, so applicants should follow the requirements published for their intended degree. Some programs admit for fall only, and a deadline for funding consideration may differ from another application date.

Institutional first-time undergraduate figures describe a different, very small applicant group: 146 applicants, 100 admits and 12 enrolled students in the reported cycle. The resulting acceptance rate of about 68% should not be read as the acceptance rate for Graduate Center doctoral programs. Undergraduate applicants should use the admissions rules for their actual CUNY pathway; system-level reporting indicates that secondary-school records and GPA are considered for that category, while SAT and ACT scores are not listed as required.

What are the application fees and waivers at CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

Application fees vary by CUNY application route, so applicants should confirm the charge shown for their program before submitting payment. CUNY's standard undergraduate application charges are $65 for first-year applicants and $70 for transfer applicants; Graduate Center graduate applications have generally carried a separate $75 fee. A specialized program or application process may have different instructions.

Fee waivers may be available to eligible applicants, including those who meet applicable financial-need or CUNY program criteria. Waiver documentation and timing depend on the application route. An applicant who needs a waiver should review the relevant admissions instructions before submitting rather than assume a fee can be refunded afterward. An application fee is separate from tuition, mandatory student fees and any later enrollment deposit.

What types of ROTC programs are available at CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

The Graduate Center is not an ROTC host campus. Its graduate-focused structure also means that a general statement about ROTC availability elsewhere in CUNY would not establish an option for a particular Graduate Center student.

Students interested in Army, Air Force or Navy ROTC should ask the relevant host unit whether cross-enrollment is permitted for their CUNY program, degree level and schedule. ROTC scholarships and participation have separate eligibility rules, and commissioning normally entails a military service obligation. Those questions should be resolved with the host unit before ROTC is included in an enrollment or financing plan.

What are the requirements for transfer students at CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

There is no single transfer-admission rule that fits every program reported under CUNY Graduate School and University Center. Students seeking an undergraduate CUNY pathway apply under that pathway's transfer rules; applicants to a Graduate Center master's or doctoral program undergo graduate admission rather than ordinary undergraduate transfer admission.

Undergraduate transfer applicants should expect to provide transcripts from every college attended and, when required by their application route or credit history, secondary-school records. Admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions: an admitted student may find that some prior courses count only as electives or do not fulfill major requirements. CUNY's transfer-equivalency tools can help with preliminary planning, but the receiving program makes the official determination.

Graduate applicants with previous graduate coursework should ask their program about its limits on transferred credits, minimum grades, course age and residency requirements. A formal evaluation after admission is more reliable than assuming that courses with similar titles will satisfy degree requirements.

What types of study abroad programs are available at CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

Graduate Center students may have international research, conference or other approved study opportunities, but a conventional semester-abroad catalog should not be assumed for every graduate program. Options depend on the degree, research plan, faculty supervision and available funding.

CUNY also offers international-education opportunities across its colleges. Participation in another CUNY college's program does not automatically mean its credits will apply to a Graduate Center degree. Before committing to travel, students should obtain academic approval and clarify credit, enrollment, insurance and financial-aid treatment. Doctoral students planning research abroad should also check whether their fellowship or assistantship permits the proposed absence.