New York's $1.5 trillion economy is the country's third largest, behind Texas at $1.7 trillion and California at $2.7 trillion; however, New York invests more per student pursuing higher education than Texas or California. U.S. News & World Report rates New York's per-student spending of $8,640 as the 10th highest in the country. It is the only northeastern state to make the list.
This guide explores New York State accredited online colleges. Since tuition is often a major factor in deciding where to attend college, this guide also compares the cost of a college degree in New York to the rest of the country, as well as public and private school tuition rates and in-state and out-of-state enrollment. Additionally, you will find information on scholarship and grant programs to help fund your college education.
New York's unemployment rate of 3.9% is just above the country's average unemployment rate of 3.7%. The number of private sector and government jobs added to the state's economy continues to rise; however, registering a 1.3% increase from October 2017 to October 2018, equaling 123,200 new jobs for New Yorkers. More than 50% of these new jobs were in New York City, but nearly all major regions of the state registered positive employment numbers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 18% of jobs in the country currently require a bachelor's degree. In New York, that number is just under 20%, meaning job seekers with a bachelor's degree have an edge over job seekers without one. In terms of weekly median income, college degree holders earn roughly 60% more, $1,189, than high school graduates with no college degree, $718. Overall, New York's annual mean wage is higher than the national average. The New York job market remains robust; college graduates who look for employment there will find opportunities for new jobs as well as career advancement.
According to U.S. News & World Report, nontraditional students make up the bulk of the online student population. In fact, only 5% of online enrollees for the 2015-2016 school year were first-time students fresh out of high school. However, as more institutions increase their online offerings, this percentage is expected to rise.
Online students enjoy the flexibility and lower costs of distance learning. For the most part, public nonprofit state- or city-based colleges and universities offering online programs usually charge the same tuition rates for their online and on-campus degrees. Online students save money by not having to pay for additional housing, transportation, and meal plans. In a state like New York, listed as the third least affordable state to live in, these savings add up quickly. Students will find several New York colleges with online programs. The country's largest comprehensive university system, the State University of New York (SUNY), comprises 64 institutions, and several offer online college courses in New York. Students who enroll in online classes have many options when it comes to pursuing higher education in New York.
| Public Two-Year | Public Four-Year | |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $5,490 | $8,190 |
| U.S. Average | $3,660 | $10,230 |
Source: The College Board
Some states refer to their in-state enrollees as resident students to establish a definition of residency status. Students who move to a state and take up residency for the purpose of attending a college or university, do not automatically qualify as residents eligible to pay lower in-state tuition. On average, out-of-state students pay 150% higher tuition than in-state students. As seen below, in New York, non-resident students pay about 250% more in tuition than residents. Resident students pay lower tuition since their tax dollars support the higher education system in their state. While some states treat online students as residents, others do not, charging them out-of-state tuition instead.
Some states require non-resident students, both online and on-campus, to pay out-of-state tuition for their freshman year. Students become eligible for in-state tuition beginning their sophomore year.
| Public Two-Year | Public Four-Year | |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $8,190 | $20,030 |
| U.S. Average | $10,230 | $26,290 |
Source: The College Board
The table below shows that New York provides higher state grant aid per full-time undergraduate student, $1,200, than the national average, $790. However, in the fall of 2017, New York gave its college-bound residents an accessible college program that is the first of its kind. The Excelsior Scholarship gives every eligible New Yorker the chance to attend a two- or four-year public college or university tuition-free. In addition to the 64 institutions that comprise SUNY, the City University of New York (CUNY) adds seven community colleges, seven professional schools, and 11 senior colleges to the list of institutions that participate in the Excelsior Scholarship program.
The program accepts traditional as well as nontraditional college students of any age, if they have not earned a bachelor's degree or defaulted on any federal or state student loans. College applicants in New York fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to begin their search for funding. In addition, New York requires applicants to complete the New York State Tuition Assistance Program form. There is no fee for filing either document.
New York is one of the most highly educated states in the country, boasting a population where 15% of residents have a master's degree or higher and close to 35% have a bachelor's degree. The number of state-financed college assistance programs contribute support to the state's commitment to higher education and its students. Some of these scholarship and grant programs are listed below.
Who Can Apply: This program assists New York residents with a combined gross income of $110,000 or less who have been accepted to a four-year program at a private college or university in the state.
Amount: $3,000, to be matched by participating institution
Who Can Apply: College-bound New Yorkers whose gross income is below $125,000 and who plan to enroll as full-time students in a SUNY or CUNY school can apply.
Amount: Up to the cost of tuition
Who Can Apply: This scholarship provides financial assistance to the children and spouses of USAF members who died or became severely and permanently disabled in the line of duty before August 2, 1990.
Amount: SUNY tuition, plus non-tuition allowance
Who Can Apply: Undergraduate and graduate students who plan to pursue careers as math or science teachers in grades 7-12 can apply for this scholarship. Graduating high school seniors must complete at least one semester of college before applying for the scholarship.
Amount: Up to full tuition at the applicant's accepting college or the equivalent of SUNY in-state tuition, whichever is less
Who Can Apply: The NYS Memorial Scholarship supports the children, spouses, and financial dependents of firefighters, including volunteers, police officers, and peace officers who died while rendering service to New York.
Amount: Up to full tuition at the applicant's accepting college or the equivalent of SUNY in-state tuition, whichever is less, plus non-tuition costs
Who Can Apply: This program accepts applications from part-time SUNY or CUNY enrollees. Part-time status means students are taking a minimum of six but not more than 12 credits each term.
Amount: $1,500 per term or the cost of six credit hours, whichever is lower
Who Can Apply: These scholarships provide financial assistance to exceptional high school seniors who graduate from participating schools. Awards are based on the results of the student's Regents exam.
Amount: Up to $1,500 per year
Who Can Apply: Applicants must be in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and plan to pursue a STEM program at a two- or four-year New York college or university.
Amount: Full tuition
Who Can Apply: This program supports the financial dependents of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Dependents of the passengers who died on the flights also qualify for this scholarship.
Amount: Full tuition, plus allowance for room and board, books and other materials, and transportation if not living on campus
Who Can Apply: USAF veterans who served in sanctioned military actions or hostile initiatives qualify for this award. Applicants must have received an honorable discharge from their service branch.
Amount: Full tuition for full-time students, prorated per credit hour for part-time students
The highest percentage of jobs in the New York market over the past year were in educational and health services, 55,000 jobs, professional and business services, 15,900 jobs, and construction, 15,300 jobs. Home to nearly 20 million people, New York's growing need for educational and health services is understandable and the state's Labor Department projects continued growth in this sector. Professional and business or technical services consist of professional groups like accountants, lawyers, and information technology and security experts who often assume pivotal roles in primary economic sectors. New York's stable economy continues to fuel the construction industry and long-time industry professionals expect to see sustained building activity in both the residential and commercial sectors.
These top industries require workers with bachelor's degrees in fields like nursing, accounting, finance, law, and engineering. Brick-and-mortar New York colleges and universities have long offered these programs, and now they are being offered by several New York colleges online as well.
Graduates with nursing degrees are highly sought after by the over 220 hospitals throughout New York. Plus, these degrees give graduates options as they build their careers in healthcare. As a nurse, you can specialize in a subfield, such as informatics, midwifery, or anesthetics, or choose to work with a specific patient group, like infants, children with special needs, or seniors.
BLS projects a 10% job growth rate for the accounting sector through 20126, which is higher than the expected job growth of 7% for all other industries. In addition, New York City is one of the biggest financial centers in the world, giving accountants and other financial specialists a firm foothold in the job market.
A construction boom bodes well for construction, electrical, and civil engineers. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits both online and on-campus engineering programs, giving students the option of earning their engineering degree onsite or online. ABET currently accredits 51 New York schools offering engineering as a major.
Higher Education Services Corporation: HESC provides information and services that help college-bound students in their search for the right college or university and in understanding the different types of financial assistance available. The site contains relevant information for traditional and nontraditional students.
iMentor: This New York-based organization works with students from low-income families and pairs them with mentors who help them qualify for and find the college that matches their academic and future career goals. Mentoring can be done in person and online.
NYS Department of Financial Services – Student Lending Resource Center: This website consolidates data relevant to student loans including repayment, default issues, deference and forbearance, and student loan forgiveness programs. The site also guides visitors in filing a complaint regarding a fraudulent or misleading student-related financial services or products.
NYS Office of Higher Education: The website provides information for students, teachers, administrators, parents, and other higher education stakeholders. Students can look up information on federal scholarships and grants, research college and university programs, and read about the latest news and developments in New York higher education.
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