Established in 1919, Baruch College is a public university in New York City, which is part of the City University of New York system of colleges. The college is named after a financier named Bernard M. Baruch and houses its programs in three divisions that include the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, the Zicklin School of Business, and the Weissman School of the Arts and Sciences. When it was established in 1919, the school was known as the City College School of Business and Civic Administration. The school began admitting women in the 1930s and had 40,000 students enrolled in that decade. Today, the college has around 15,000 students enrolled at its Gramercy Park location in Manhattan. The school’s official colors are blue and white, and the school’s sports teams are known as the Bearcats.
Degree Options at Baruch College
Academic programs at Baruch College are offered within three divisions for business, public & international affairs, and arts & sciences. The school also offers continuing education programs within its Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Some of the most popular degrees at Baruch College include those in finance, accounting, sales, business, and management. Around a quarter of the students enrolled for classes are in finance programs and around 17 percent are enrolled in accounting programs, and the university has a thriving population of business students enrolled within its Zicklin School of Business.
Arts are another popular area for study at Baruch College, and the college suggests that students benefit from the institution’s location within the “world’s art capital” of Manhattan. The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences has 50 areas of study that range from math and science to the arts and humanities. Some of the degree's focus available in the arts and humanities include History, English, Business Journalism, Spanish, Music, and Philosophy. Science and math students can choose from the biological sciences, statistics, financial engineering, and mathematics. The college also has several unique interdisciplinary study options with degrees in Management of Musical Enterprise, Corporate Communication, Arts Administration, and Asian & Asian American Studies.
Students who choose to study within the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs may choose from six programs that include a Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, a Higher Education Administration degree, and a handful of others. The Marxe School recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and offers many scholarships and fellowship opportunities to its students. Students who are interested in programs may attend official school tours that are regularly held on campus, as well as open house events and information sessions for more information on the college’s programs.
While seeking degrees at Baruch College, students have access to several centers and institutes that augment the research conducted at the college, as well as offer educational benefits to students. Centers at the college include the Weissman Center for International Business, the Corporate Communication International Center for Equality, Pluralism and Policy, and the New York Census Research Data Center. Students can also participate in an honors program or study abroad while enrolled. Baruch College does not offer online classes, so students must attend classes at the main campus on Lexington and Third Avenues in Manhattan.
Baruch College Accreditation Details
Baruch College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and this agency is the regional accrediting body for the school. Regional accreditation ensures degrees earned at the college are transferrable and that students are eligible for financial aid. Accrediting agencies that approve various programs at the university include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, and the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation of NASPAA, which has accredited the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. School administrators have registered programs resulting in a degree with the New York State Education Department. The college also holds memberships with the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Baruch College Application Requirements
Most of the applicants to Baruch College are first-year students who have never attended university or an institution of higher education. Students may apply as first-year students, transfer students, international students, or non-degree seeking students. High school seniors and others without college experience must submit an official high school transcript, test scores, and an application fee of $65. The college also recommends that students submit supporting materials as described by the program in which the student wants to enroll. Some students may want to submit letters of recommendation as part of their application. Application decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students may also want to apply for the Macaulay Honors Program if they have high test scores and an excellent GPA.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at Baruch College is $6,730 for residents of New York State and $18,000 per year for non-residents. These rates apply to Baruch College, as well as all other colleges in the City University of New York system. Students will also pay a technology fee of $62.50, an activity fee of $60 to $180 per semester, and a consolidated service fee of $15 per semester. Graduate tuition for certificates and most master’s degrees for New York State residents is $5,385 per semester or $455 per credit. Out-of-state students will pay $830 per credit. Students in the Architecture program, MBA program, the MSW program, and the MPA program will pay amounts that vary from $535 per credit to $840 per credit for residents and between $920 per credit and $1,045 per credit for non-residents.
Students must submit their FAFSA form to qualify for federal financial aid from Baruch College, and students can also seek out financial aid opportunities from external sources for private student loans and external scholarships and fellowships. Scholarships are often based on the scholastic aptitude of the student, and grants are commonly awarded when students demonstrate financial need. The college recommends that all students interested in scholarships and aid apply for external aid and grants even if they’re an undocumented student and not eligible for some types of financial aid. Students in academic programs at all levels of study may also qualify for a variety of institutional scholarships offered directly by Baruch College, and all applicants are automatically considered for these scholarships when they apply for admission.