College of Staten Island CUNY (CSICUNY, CSI) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The College of Staten Island (CSI) is a member of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. It is a comprehensive four-year college that offers associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. CSI also participates in doctoral programs that are offered by the greater CUNY Graduate School and University Center.

Though founded in 1976, the current CSI campus opened in 1994, when it became the largest college campus site in New York City. It is also the only public college on Staten Island. There are 14 academic buildings and over 300 classrooms, offices, study lounges, and laboratories. The campus is divided into quadrangles, connected by a walkway called the Alumni Walk. There is ample room for walking, studying, or lounging outside in the open fields between the buildings. Sixteen works of art are scattered through this landscape, which is filled with trees and flowers and often resembles a garden – a rare find in New York City.

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Information Summary

Ranks 101st in New York and 1011th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	80.2
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$32,394
Admission Success rate	N/A
SAT 75%ile scores	1090
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	27 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	77% / 58%
Enrollment Total (all students)	13,247

Academics

Academics are broken into two divisions: the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Division of Science and Technology. The college offers 35 undergraduate degrees and 15 graduate degrees in a variety of subjects.

STEAM Program

Science and technology students may enjoy the Science and Technology Expansion via Applied Mathematics program, STEAM for short, which is a National Science Foundation-funded comprehensive initiative that will greatly enhance undergraduate science and technology education on campus. Through semester-long scholarships, research stipends, mentoring, math seminars, and more, the STEAM program will encourage undergraduate research and the pursuit of science, mathematics, and engineering as career fields.

Teacher Education Honors Academy

Similarly, the Teacher Education Honors Academy seeks to instill a love of science and math in the next generation, but it accomplishes this by training students to become future middle and high school teachers in science and math fields. Through the Honors Academy, students can choose to major in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics. Students who successfully complete the Academy’s program are offered a paid New York City teaching position upon graduation.

Honors Program

CSI participates in the Macaulay Honors Program, which is offered in seven of the university system’s campuses. Students who are accepted to the Honors Program have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to continued education, and are expected to continue their studies at the graduate and doctoral level. The program offers a selective academic community, research opportunities, and special seminars to a limited number of students in each class. Students who have excellent high school transcripts and high SAT or ACT scores are invited to apply.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Admissions requirements vary based on your intended degree program. Baccalaureate entrants are selected on the basis of high school transcripts and SAT or GED scores. Associate’s degree programs are available to any entrant who has a high school diploma or equivalent. Prospective first-time undergraduate students should complete the online application form, submit the accompanying application fee, and deliver any relevant hardcopy documents via standard mail by the application deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Admissions requirements for graduate programs vary depending on the master’s program sought. Please visit the website to learn about the admissions requirements for your desired program.

Financial Aid

Begin your financial aid search by completing the FAFSA, which is available for free at www.fafsa.gov. This form determines your eligibility for federal aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs, and may also be used as a qualifying factor in in-house scholarships and third party scholarships.

Once you’ve applied for federal aid, explore the website for school-sponsored scholarships and outside resources. In general, scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.5 and full-time student status.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5207th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in New York.

Students

There are over 50 student clubs and organizations on campus. With organizations for everything from appreciating Japanese visual art to student government, you’re sure to find something that piques your interest. Visit the Office of Student Life for more information on student organizations and involvement opportunities. Here, you can also find ways to volunteer in the local community, tutor other students, or apply for leadership positions.

Sustainability Project

The campus itself has recently gone through some major changes that affect the student body. The Sustainability Project has affected nearly every aspect of the college, from increasing the recycling efforts in academic buildings to eliminating paper billing statements. You can get involved in this effort by joining a student organization or participating in a green initiative project.

Tobacco-Free Initiative

The school is also newly tobacco-free. Educational pamphlets and initiatives seek to teach students about the dangers of smoking and of breathing second-hand smoke, while the campus has begun enforcing a no-tobacco policy inside the buildings and on most of the grounds. Smokers can still smoke, but only in the designated smoking areas that have been marked throughout the campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Local Community

The campus is located conveniently near the island of Manhattan in New York City. Take the ferry across to the southern tip of the island to enjoy local hotspots, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Take a train up to Times Square to be a tourist for the day, or bring a blanket and book to Central Park for afternoon sunbathing. Students often get discounted prices on museums and events throughout the city, so check with student services for local activities that may take place in the surrounding area.

Additional School Information

The College of Staten Island’s campus is home to a number of unique and special purpose buildings. The Astrophysical Observatory, completed in 1996, is a tribute to the powers and future of the cosmos. It seeks to educate students and the community about the universe, our environment, and the discipline of astronomy as part of the Astronomy Program.

The Center for the Arts, located in the middle of campus, was completed in 1996. It has hosted hundreds of artists since its inception, and is home to CFA Presents, which is an annual series of comedy, dance, and music performances.

The Biological Sciences/Chemical Sciences Building has state-of-the-art facilities and is home to laboratories and research equipment for the use of its students. It also contains the Center for Environmental Science and the Center for Developmental Neuroscience and Developmental Disabilities.

Finally, the Sports and Recreation Center is home to a pool, a fitness center, multiple gyms, and indoor racquetball courts. It is surrounded by outdoor tennis, handball, and basketball courts as well as softball and football fields and a quarter-mile track. It hosts a number of events and athletic games, in addition to a weekly schedule of classes for students and faculty.

College of Staten Island CUNY