CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Key Highlights

• Public research university with state support
• Located in a major metropolitan area with excellent opportunities
• Research-intensive with extensive graduate programs
• Diverse academic programs across multiple disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Student life at the Graduate Center differs fundamentally from typical university experiences. There are no dormitories, no undergraduate students, and no football games. Instead, intellectual community forms through seminars, working groups, and the informal conversations that happen in shared spaces. The building's central location means students often arrive from across the five boroughs, sometimes commuting for an hour or more each way. Many students maintain apartments scattered throughout New York, finding housing where they can afford it rather than clustering near campus. The doctoral student lounge and various study spaces provide gathering points for students between classes. Professional development workshops, writing groups, and dissertation support services help students navigate the long doctoral journey. The student government advocates for graduate student interests within the broader CUNY system. Social connections often form within departments and programs rather than across the institution. The bars and restaurants of Midtown provide spaces for the kind of post-seminar discussions that build academic communities, though New York prices can strain student budgets.

Location & Surroundings

The Graduate Center occupies a striking building on Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets, placing it in the commercial heart of Manhattan. The Empire State Building looms just blocks away, and Grand Central Terminal provides transportation connections in every direction. Midtown Manhattan surrounds students with the energy and chaos of one of the world's great cities, which can be either exhilarating or exhausting depending on temperament. The New York Public Library main branch sits nearby, providing research resources that complement the Graduate Center's own collections. Museums, theaters, and cultural institutions throughout the city are accessible by subway. Housing in Manhattan itself typically exceeds doctoral student budgets, pushing many to Brooklyn, Queens, or even New Jersey for affordable options. The subway system makes most of the city accessible, though commute times add up. Weather runs through the full range of seasons, from humid summers to cold winters with occasional snowstorms that bring the city to a temporary halt. New York's cost of living is legendary, and graduate students learn to find the affordable corners that make life sustainable.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition at the Graduate Center distinguishes between New York residents and out-of-state students, with residents paying substantially less. Many doctoral students receive tuition remission as part of funding packages that include teaching positions at CUNY undergraduate colleges. These positions provide essential income while also offering teaching experience valuable for academic careers. Living in New York City requires creative budgeting, with housing costs consuming large portions of student income. Additional work, whether tutoring, editing, or other freelance arrangements, often supplements official funding. The career services office supports students pursuing both academic and alternative careers, recognizing that not all doctoral recipients will find tenure-track positions. The CUNY network provides teaching opportunities and professional connections throughout the metropolitan area. Alumni work in academia, government, publishing, media, and nonprofit organizations, drawing on both their doctoral training and the connections New York provides. Completion times for doctoral programs tend to run longer than at fully funded programs with fewer working students, a reality that students should factor into their planning.

Compare with Similar Universities