New York, City University of, is the largest urban public university system in the United States. It is often referred to as CUNY. The CUNY system consists of several senior colleges, community colleges, and graduate and professional schools throughout the five boroughs (districts) of New York City. These institutions offer a wide variety of academic programs leading to associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees.
CUNY institutions in the borough of Manhattan include Baruch College, the City College of New York, the Graduate Center, the Graduate School of Journalism, Hunter College, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. CUNY institutions in the other four boroughs include Lehman College in the Bronx; Brooklyn College, Medgar Evers College, and the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn; Queens College, York College, and the School of Law in Queens; and the College of Staten Island on Staten Island. Students in CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College are spread throughout a number of CUNY campuses. CUNY also has dozens of nationally recognized research centers and institutes.
CUNY traces its beginnings to the founding of the Free Academy in 1847. The Free Academy later became the City College. The New York State Legislature established CUNY in 1961 to join together the public municipal colleges in New York City. Well-known CUNY graduates include U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and the research scientist Jonas E. Salk.
The university’s website at https://www.cuny.edu offers additional information.
