The College of Westchester

About The College of Westchester

The College of Westchester traces its history to the Westchester Commercial School, founded in New Rochelle in 1915. It relocated to White Plains in 1959 and later operated as Westchester Business Institute before adopting its current name. The institution remains active at 325 Central Avenue, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed its accreditation on June 25, 2026, with the next self-study evaluation scheduled for 2033–34. CW is a private, for-profit institution authorized by New York State to award the Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Occupational Studies, and certificates. Its undergraduate emphasis is applied and career-directed rather than research-intensive. Academic offerings are organized around business, health professions, human and social services, and information technology. The college serves students through day, evening, and online formats. This structure may be particularly relevant to commuters, working adults, transfer students, and applicants seeking multiple entry points during the year. Its comparatively specialized portfolio means prospective students should evaluate the exact curriculum, delivery format, required credits, professional-exam expenses, and transferability of credits for their intended program before enrolling. Accreditation does not by itself guarantee that another institution will accept CW credits or that a program will satisfy licensing requirements outside the credentials explicitly described by the college.

CW accepts applications for certificate, associate, and bachelor’s programs through its online application system and advertises year-round program start dates. The current admissions page says applicants may apply at any time, so candidates should confirm the next available start for their particular program and delivery format rather than rely on a single annual deadline. Admissions advisers work individually with applicants, and the 2025–26 catalog strongly recommends a personal interview. The college currently describes undergraduate admission as test-optional for recent U.S. high-school graduates. SAT or ACT scores are not required for that group when admission is based on high-school performance. CW instead uses placement testing to assess English and mathematics readiness, with an exemption described for students earning at least 80 on both relevant New York Regents examinations. Applicants from other educational backgrounds should not assume that this exemption applies to them. Document requirements can differ by educational history and program, and the current admissions page directs applicants to the Undergraduate Admissions Office for a complete individualized list. Transfer applicants should obtain an official evaluation of prior coursework and confirm how accepted credits apply to program requirements. International applicants are instructed to contact the Admissions Office directly; the available official material does not publish a current universal English-test threshold or a detailed international-document checklist. The 2025–26 catalog lists a $40 non-refundable application fee, but applicants should verify that charge for their 2026–27 application before paying.

CW’s academic scope is deliberately concentrated. Its current program structure comprises the School of Business, School of Health Professions, School of Human and Social Services, and School of Information Technology, alongside online and certificate options. Published offerings include accounting, business administration and management, digital and social media marketing, computer information systems, computer networking and security, and programs in health and human services. Applicants should use the current program page and catalog to confirm that a particular award and delivery format are accepting students. Bachelor’s students can pursue Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Science awards. The 2025–26 catalog states that bachelor’s degrees require 120 credits. It also describes Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Studies pathways, generally requiring 66 credits, plus registered certificate programs of either 36 or 48 credits. Certificate awards do not map to the degree-level taxonomy used in this profile. The curriculum has an applied orientation. An industry advisory council provides input on program outcomes and employer needs, while some programs incorporate internships, practica, or preparation for external certification examinations. Completion of coursework does not guarantee success on an external certification examination, and students may bear separate testing costs. Academic support includes centralized advising for day, evening, and online students, assigned Student Success Coaches, a Learning Center and testing services, a library, and accessibility services. Students comparing formats should examine course sequencing and whether required practical experiences can be completed from their location.

Key Highlights

• MSCHE reaffirmed the college’s accreditation on June 25, 2026.
• Founded in 1915 and located in White Plains since 1959.
• New York State authorizes CW to award certificates and associate and bachelor’s degrees.
• Day, evening, and online study formats are available.

Student Life & Environment

Student life reflects CW’s commuter setting and professionally oriented programs. Rather than a residential-campus model, activities are built around students who come to the White Plains campus for classes or participate through other delivery formats. The college publishes opportunities for student government, clubs, leadership development, academic recognition, and events, but the scale and meeting times of individual organizations may vary. Prospective students who want an intensive residential social experience should compare this format carefully with colleges that operate residence halls. The Student Government Association provides a formal channel for student participation and is open to enrolled students. The college also describes extracurricular clubs and organizations intended to build collaboration and leadership. Academic recognition opportunities include an Honors Program for associate-degree students, an undergraduate research seminar for selected bachelor-level students, Phi Theta Kappa, and Sigma Beta Delta. Each has its own academic or credit-based eligibility rules. Support services are a substantial part of the student experience. New-student orientation introduces college policies and resources, while Student Success Coaches monitor progress and coordinate with faculty and advisers. Students can also use centralized advising, learning and testing support, accessibility services, counseling, the library, and Career Services. Since campus engagement must fit around commuting and class schedules, applicants should ask which clubs, events, and support appointments operate during their intended day, evening, or online schedule.

Location & Surroundings

CW’s main campus is at 325 Central Avenue in White Plains, a commercial and employment center in Westchester County. The location is oriented toward commuters from Westchester and neighboring parts of the New York–Connecticut metropolitan area. Students should plan for travel time and transportation expenses rather than assume a residential-campus routine. The college reports that free parking is available to commuting students. Public transportation options include nearby Westchester Bee-Line bus stops; the Route 20 bus stops about half a block away. CW places the White Plains bus depot and Metro-North transportation center approximately a ten-minute walk from campus or a five-minute trip on the Route 20 bus. This connection can make the campus accessible from communities served by regional rail and bus networks, although students should verify schedules for evening or weekend classes. White Plains and proximity to New York City can support internships and employer contact across the tri-state area. Career Services reports working with organizations in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The practical value of that location will depend on a student’s program, commute, work schedule, and willingness to travel to an internship or practicum site.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, CW publishes tuition of $904 per credit for day, evening, and online study. Its illustrative charges are $11,508 for 12 credits and $14,385 for 15 credits, including listed general fees. Books are additional, and medical courses, certification examinations, graduation, or other program requirements can produce further charges. These current figures supersede the lower annual tuition stored in the database, which should not be used as a 2026–27 estimate. CW’s 2026–27 day-division cost-of-attendance example covers a dependent student living with parents and taking 27 credits over two semesters. It estimates $24,408 in tuition, $1,000 for books and supplies, $1,485 in general student-services fees, and indirect allowances for living, transportation, and personal expenses, for a total of $32,750. This is a planning budget, not every student’s bill. The college describes federal and state aid, institutional scholarships and grants, payment plans, and federal work-study for eligible students. Applicants should compare net costs only after receiving an individualized aid offer. Career Services provides résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, career counseling, job-search support, career events, internship coordination, and part-time placement assistance. The catalog explicitly states that employment is not guaranteed. CW reports high related-employment percentages for 2024–25 graduates, but those rates exclude several groups and rely on graduate self-reports, so they should not be treated as universal placement probabilities. Prospective students should request program-specific outcomes, cohort sizes, job titles, and methodology before using employment data in an enrollment decision.