Organizer Information
The City College of New York (CCNY), a public senior college of The City University of New York (CUNY), offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts, humanities, media, architecture, education, engineering, science, and social sciences. Relevant creative programs are offered through the Division of Humanities and the Arts, particularly the Art Department and Media & Communication Arts Department.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: The City College of New York
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Art History, Photography, Digital Design, Electronic Design & Multimedia, Film & Video, Cinema Studies, Art Education
- Relevant Programs: BA in Art; BFA in Electronic Design & Multimedia; BFA in Film & Video; MFA in Studio Art; MFA in Digital & Interdisciplinary Art Practice; MA in Art History; MA in Art Education; MFA in Film
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Spring 2027 and Fall 2027; program-specific graduate and creative-program deadlines apply.
- Application Deadline: Program-specific; see Deadline & Timeline.
- Start of Studies: Spring 2027: 28 January 2027; Fall 2027: 26 August 2027.
- Application Fee: $65 freshman / $70 transfer / $75 graduate
- Tuition: From $620 per undergraduate credit for non-NYS residents; $855 per graduate credit for standard graduate programs
- Funding: Scholarships, grants and program-level tuition scholarships are available; eligibility varies.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- CCNY offers undergraduate Art study through a BA with concentrations in Studio Art, Art History, Digital Design, Photography, and Teaching Art K-12, as well as a BFA in Electronic Design & Multimedia. Graduate Art programs include the MFA in Studio Art, MFA in Digital & Interdisciplinary Art Practice, MA in Art History, and MA in Art Education.
- Film applicants can pursue the BFA in Film & Video or the MFA in Film. The BFA emphasizes fiction and documentary production, while the MFA provides graduate study in documentary and fiction filmmaking.
- Eligibility is program-specific. Creative programs may require portfolios or creative samples, while academic programs such as Art History emphasize prior academic study and writing.
General Eligibility
- International students can apply to CCNY. Applicants educated outside the United States must provide the academic records required for their applicant category, with translations where applicable. Graduate applicants generally need a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent and an adequate academic background in the intended field.
- Program-specific requirements apply to selective creative programs. The BFA in Film & Video uses a second-tier admission process after admission to CCNY.
Educational Background
- Graduate applicants must normally hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. CCNY evaluates international academic credentials according to the applicant's educational system and completed level of study.
- Program-specific academic preparation includes:
- MFA Studio Art: BFA, BA or BS in an art-related field is preferred, with substantial undergraduate study in studio art and art history.
- MFA Film: Applicants whose undergraduate degree is outside film must complete foundational coursework in film/video production and cinema history/aesthetics.
- MFA DIAP: Applicants should hold a BA, BS or BFA in computer art, design, video, photography, computer science, architecture, or a related art, media, design or technology field. Applicants with relevant industry or media-arts experience may also be considered.
- MA Art History: Applicants should hold a BA and have completed at least 9–12 undergraduate credits in art history.
- MA Art Education: Applicants need a bachelor's degree in Art, Art Education, Art History or a related field, approximately 24 undergraduate credits in studio art and art history, and a 3.0 GPA, subject to program review.
Language Requirements
- International applicants educated in non-English-speaking environments must demonstrate English proficiency. Graduate programs accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo, with minimum scores varying by program.
- For example, the MFA in Film requires 90–91 TOEFL iBT, 7 IELTS, 61 PTE or 110 Duolingo; the MFA in Studio Art lists the same minimums. The MA in Art History requires 90–91 TOEFL iBT or 6.5 IELTS.
- Applicants with degrees from foreign institutions where English was the medium of instruction are not automatically exempt from the graduate English requirement.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate freshman | $65 |
| Undergraduate transfer | $70 |
| Graduate | $75 |
Graduate fee waivers are limited to eligible U.S. veterans. CUNY also provides specific undergraduate fee-waiver provisions for qualifying New York State applicants.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | NYS resident, full-time | $3,465 | Per semester |
| Undergraduate degree | NYS non-resident | $620 | Per credit |
| Graduate degree | NYS resident, full-time | $5,545 | Per semester |
| Graduate degree | NYS non-resident | $855 | Per credit |
Additional semester charges include a $15 consolidated fee, $1.45 student senate fee, and technology fees of $125 for full-time students or $62.50 for part-time students. Certain graduate programs have different tuition rates and additional program-specific fees.
F-1/J-1 international students pay New York State non-resident tuition rates.
Funding & Financial Support
- CCNY's Financial Aid Office administers scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. However, CCNY states that international students on F-1 visas are not eligible for institutional financial aid.
- Program-level funding can differ. The MA in Art History offers tuition-based scholarships to its strongest applicants, while the DIAP MFA offers competitive tuition-based scholarships and opportunities for practice teaching, internships and college assistantships.
University Services & Academic Support
- Creative students have access to specialized facilities. The Art Department provides studios, multimedia labs, photography facilities, printmaking and sculpture facilities, and an Art Gallery exhibiting student and professional work. MFA students are granted graduate studio space for four semesters.
- Film students have access to production studios, lighting and grip equipment, cameras, sound equipment, digital editing labs, projection facilities and a black-box theatre.
- DIAP MFA students receive individual workspace in a collaborative studio and access to digital fabrication, projection, VR, printing, scanning, camera and sound equipment.
Application Requirements
- General graduate admission: transcripts, personal statement, recommendations and program-specific materials.
- MFA Studio Art: transcripts, two recommendations, CV/resume, personal statement and creative portfolio; interview may be requested.
- MFA Film: transcripts, two recommendations, CV/resume, personal statement and film/video creative portfolio; applicants may be asked to interview.
- MFA DIAP: portfolio review; applicants submit portfolio materials through the graduate application system.
- MA Art History: transcripts, CV/resume, personal statement, 8–10-page art-history research paper and two recommendation letters.
- MA Art Education: personal statement, three recommendation letters and a 15–20-image online portfolio; selected applicants are interviewed.
- BFA Film & Video: video portfolio, personal statement, writing sample and prerequisite coursework; fiction-track applicants also submit a screenplay sample.
International graduate applicants must also provide the required original academic records, English translations and international credential documentation.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- International Undergraduate Fall 2027 Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
- International Undergraduate Fall 2027 Supporting Documents Deadline: 15 December 2026
- International Undergraduate Spring 2027 Application Deadline: 1 September 2026
- International Undergraduate Spring 2027 Supporting Documents Deadline: 15 September 2026
- BFA in Film & Video Fall 2027 Deadline: 15 February 2027
- BFA in Film & Video Admission Notifications: 1 April 2027
- MFA in Studio Art Fall 2027 Deadline: 22 March 2027
- MFA in Studio Art Preferred Deadline: 1 February 2027
- MFA in Digital & Interdisciplinary Art Practice Fall 2027 Deadline: 1 April 2027
- MFA in Film Fall 2027 Deadline: 1 April 2027
- MA in Art History Fall 2027 Deadline: 1 April 2027
- MA in Art History Spring 2027 Deadline: 15 November 2026
- MA in Art Education Fall 2027 Deadline: 15 March 2027
- MA in Art Education Spring 2027 Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Fall 2027 Classes Begin: 26 August 2027
- Spring 2027 Classes Begin: 28 January 2027
Location
The City College of New York — New York City, United States
Additional Details
- CCNY's creative programs do not share a single admissions process. In particular, the BFA in Film & Video has a second-tier admission process after initial admission to CCNY, while graduate Art and Film programs use the graduate admissions system with additional program-level review.
- International graduate applicants should allow additional time for credential review, translations, English testing and visa processing. For F-1 admission, CCNY requires accepted students to demonstrate sufficient financial resources for at least one academic year before issuing the I-20.