I need help finding a college that’s close by that I can go to while working a full/part-time job. I’m moving in with my mother and she lives in Midtown Manhattan. I currently hope to plan to major or double major in Computer Science and Business Analytics. Other interests are Statistics and Finance.
I am not interested or dorming or a meal plan since I want to reduce my possibilities of debt as little as possible. I’m 24, yet when considering that I can file for myself by 25/26, I’m waiting until then for when things are financially settled with myself and my mother for when I move.
If you become a NYC resident it is likely that the least expensive option would be a CUNY school. Baruch jumps to mind as it is particularly well known for business and has evening classes but you should look into other CUNY schools as well (ex. CCNY, Hunter, Brooklyn College to name a few). Colleges & Schools – The City University of New York
There are also many fine private schools in NYC that are strong in business but they are likely to be more expensive. A few offhand are Columbia CGS, NYU, Fordham, Manhattan, St. Johns, You can google a list and research if any fit your cost constraints and needs.
Yeah, but it’s likely that I will have to go to a private school since I have to reduce the amount of student loan debt that I’m getting.
In any case, depending on how it works, I might get a grant, but again, that’s just pushing it. I’m halfway done, at least, since I went to community college prior to covid. But since I took time off just before it hit, I’ve been doing nothing but using the grace period in my favor.
My parents also separated and considering how messed up the whole situation has been for us, it came down to a point where I had to let my sister graduate first, in which she’ll do so by May of this year.
I’ll also need to find a job since I have to move in with my mother to make ends meet. I won’t be able to go right away cause of the financial aid constraints to my parents, but I will eventually need to find something that makes $40-45k or above per year.
As great as it would be to go to those fine private schools, I have to accept the reality that I’ll need the degree first and only. NYC is already a nightmare in itself to live in and ironically enough, I was born there first most of all.
I’m a bit confused. Why would you need to go to a private school to reduce the amount of student loan debt? Is it because you think you would get merit aid at the private schools that would make the cost lower than the cost of a CUNY?
CUNY City College (in Manhattan) costs $6,930 for in-state residents or $18,600 for out-of-state residents. NYU is $53,770. Manhattan College is $42,800. Pace is $45,382. Stevens Institute of Technology over in Hoboken is $56,920. Even with substantial merit aid at these other colleges (and merit aid for transfer students is much scarcer than it is for first-year students), the cost is unlikely to approach the CUNY costs. CUNY is an amazing deal for NYC residents.
I would go to CUNY’s website here and see which campuses offer the majors you’re interested in (i.e. do you want Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Computer Network Technology, Computer Graphics and Imaging, etc). But if it’s really Computer Science you want then you’re looking at:
Brooklyn College
City College
College of Staten Island
Hunter College
Lehman College
Medgar Evers College
Queens College
York College
There is no major in “business analytics” offered at CUNY, but there is Data Analytics/Economics at NYC College of Technology.
Frankly, I would browse through the websites, look at the curricular offerings, and see which campuses have the major you think would work best for you. Also, look at the financial aid sections because different campuses have different types of financial aid available, and you may qualify for a scholarship at one campus that you wouldn’t qualify for at a different one.
Have you considered online only programs? I don’t know which offer/are best for CS, but look at ASU, Purdue Global, Western Governor’s, Southern New Hampshire. I’m sure there are more.
As other posters mentioned, the CUNY schools will likely be your best bet close, affordable, and they’ll have a lot of students that are there while working as well. CUNY schools enroll close to 80K part time students!
If you’re lookin for a more business slant, Baruch has Computer Info Systems, Stats and Finance
John Jay School of Criminal justice is great for CS/Info Security and Data Science
Hunter has Stats and Computer Science
CCNY, and Lehmen have Computer Science programs,
Which college in NYC is the cheapest or offers the cheapest CS program for the most bang-for-buck in terms of financial aid?
Just to add a little more info, I’m 24. I went to Herkimer in 2017 and graduated in 2019 (so just before the pandemic hit, thank god). By the time I graduated, I took some time off and been doing nothing but using the grace period to my favor since covid hit. I’m moving in with my mother by the time my sister graduates in May, which will also be the same time the grace period ends.
I’m really doing my best to flex my options but time and money are of the essence. Depending on how long I forbear the loans and depending on how my moving situation is and what it looks like, there’s not much else that I can do other than be ready for the outcome in the future and plan ahead.
Speaking of planning, between what major choices I have, especially when it comes to pairing them with CS, what are my options for double majors in terms of financial aid? Which majors would obviously take me the most time to complete?
Where are you living now? Are you a resident of New York?
Just so I’m clear, are you needing a job earing $40-45k now, before you start the last two years of college? Or that’s how much you need to make after you graduate?
How long different majors would take to finish will depend on what classes you have already taken. Go back to post #5 and click on the link for the majors offered at the various CUNYs. See which degree programs interest you. Look and see what the requirements are for those majors. See which courses you have that already fulfill requirements. What’s left is what you’ll need to take. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to a transfer advisor to help with this process.
The best bang for your buck is going to be one of the CUNY schools. If cost is a major driving factor, then I wouldn’t be focusing on trying to double major, as that can often mean more time if you don’t already have a bunch of advanced credit (not impossible, though, so if it’s really a path you’re interested in, do the research to see if you can make it work). Look at each CUNY school and the scholarships it offers to see if there are any for which you would qualify/be in consideration. Financial aid usually isn’t based on someone’s double major either.
I live in Westchester, currently. Although to be more precise, Bronxville. Although I’m getting ready to move by around late May after my sister graduates and moves out with her friends.
The 40-45k is more about trying to uproot my mother’s living expenses since my parents separated in 2020 in October by the time covid happened. She’s been talking about moving, but since she’s french, it’s hard for her to understand what we’re both trying to say to each other given the language barrier, so she has a habit of taking things literally.
I’ve already done the work of making sure to take the right electives for my degree back in community college. I’ll try and do one major in Computer Science to see if things work out. It’s just that the reason why I happened to choose to double major is that because my parents lost their jobs, it’s obviously left me to have to bite off more than I could chew and to put more work in on myself so that I’ll be able to maximize my potential in life. But even then, I’m just broken, winded, and isolated from my living situation with being in Bronxville. The place is too isolating and sedentary. People are just too busy staying at home to do anything and I think it’s getting to the point where it’s driving me crazy.
Yeah, seems fair enough. So I guess I’ll just major in one thing then.