City University of New York

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Agency Web Site: https://www.cuny.edu/

Mission

The City University of New York (CUNY) has its origins in the Free Academy, established in 1847 under the auspices of the New York City Board of Education, and today is the nation’s largest urban public university system. The University’s mission is to provide affordable higher education with a focus on the urban community of New York City.

Organization and Staffing

CUNY is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees, consisting of 10 members appointed by the Governor, five members appointed by the Mayor, and the chair of the Student Senate and the chair of the Faculty Senate, who both act as ex-officio members. Aside from the Board, CUNY’s leadership structure consists of a Chancellor, individual college presidents, and centralized staff. CUNY includes 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, and seven honors and professional schools located throughout the City’s five boroughs, employing thousands of academic, administrative, and facility personnel.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends $5.8 billion in total appropriations for CUNY and projects a workforce of 13,511 full-time equivalent employees.

The Executive Budget contains three different categories of appropriations for CUNY, including:

• $2.1 billion in local assistance appropriations that provide General Fund support to CUNY, an increase of $65 million from FY 2024;
• $441 million in new appropriations and $4.2 billion in reappropriations for capital projects. The new FY 2025 appropriation total is $637 million less than the new appropriation total in FY 2024, but $58 million more than the FY 2025 appropriation level included in the FY 2024 Enacted Budget Capital Plan; and
• $3.3 billion in total Enterprise Fund appropriations that consist of spending supported by the various funding sources allocated for CUNY senior colleges, including the General Fund appropriations described above, Federal aid, grants and scholarships, tuition and fees, and other resources. Total Enterprise Fund appropriations increase by $43 million from FY 2024 to FY 2025.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Higher Education (PDF)

Program Highlights

CUNY is the largest urban university system in the nation and offers a wide variety of educational avenues, ranging from vocational courses to doctoral degree programs. Per Fall 2023 enrollment data, approximately 231,000 full- and part-time CUNY students are pursuing studies ranging from one-year certificate programs to doctorates.

Increase State Support for CUNY Campuses by $107 Million

The Executive Budget provides $107 million in new, recurring State support for CUNY senior colleges in AY 2025. This increased funding includes:

• $70 million for university employee fringe benefits;
• $36 million for recurring general operating support; and
• $1 million for micro-credential programs that educate teachers in the science of reading.

Maintain the Community College Funding Floor

The Executive Budget maintains a funding floor for community colleges at 100 percent of prior year funding. Without a funding floor, CUNY community colleges would face a $60 million (27 percent) loss in formula aid due to enrollment declines.

Invest in CUNY Facilities

The FY 2025 Executive Budget includes $441 million in new appropriations and $4.2 billion in reappropriations to support infrastructure improvements at CUNY. The new appropriations provide: $384 million in new capital appropriations for CUNY senior college projects, $16 million for community college projects, and $41 million for CUNY capital program administration.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024