Difference between SUNY and CUNY schools - A Quick Query

Hey, I'm considering both SUNY and CUNY for my college applications, but I'm kind of confused about the differences between these two public university systems. In what ways do they differ in admission requirements, academic programs, campus culture, etc? Any insight will help, thanks!

Sure, I'd be glad to provide some insight!

Both the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) are public higher education systems in New York. Here are few differences that come to mind:

Geographical Distribution

All CUNYs are located in the city of New York. They have 25 campuses across five boroughs (Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens). On the other hand, SUNY consists of 64 campuses distributed all across the state of New York.

Types of Institutions

SUNY system is made up of community colleges, undergraduate colleges, specialized colleges (for example, SUNY Maritime, Foresty, etc), and university centers that house doctoral programs, like Binghamton, Albany, Buffalo, and Stony Brook.

CUNY mainly comprises senior (bachelor's degree) colleges and community (associate degree) colleges spread across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

Admission Requirements

Generally, SUNY schools are slightly more selective, but it can widely vary depending on the specific SUNY or CUNY campus you're looking at. For example, SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Stony brook have more competitive admission processes compared to CUNY schools.

Academic Programs and Campus Culture

For academic programs, both systems offer a wide range of programs across various disciplines. Some programs might be stronger at certain campuses than others depending on the specific subject area.

As for campus culture, SUNY schools offer a more traditional college experience, with some campuses located in small towns or rural areas, whereas CUNY schools are more commuter-based with many students living off-campus, given the urban setting.

To make the best choice, you can research each institution's offerings and academic strengths, visit campuses if possible, and consider other factors such as location, student life, and financial costs.