Queens College Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

Known for its programs in pre-professional and liberal arts and sciences disciplines, Queens College (QC) has been declared the ‘Best Value’ college several times by the Princeton Review. The alumni of QC include musicians, performers, and celebrities who have been nominated for and awarded more than 100 Grammy Awards. Queens College featured on the list of Forbes Top 100 in America's Top College and Best Value College in 2019. In 2021, Business Insider placed the university at the 4th position in the list of top colleges under the Best Return on Investment category. Students at the university can join more than 100 clubs and organizations to participate in cultural events, sports, and other activities. Education Trust has listed the university among the top 5 colleges due to QC’s focus on success, access, and affordability. QC launches new cafeterias, lounges, and dining areas on its campus consistently to improve the student experience.

Courses Offered

What all courses are available to international students?

Queens College offers more than 69 undergraduate programs where students can consult with their advisors and design their own majors. Academically gifted students can take part in the honours programs, such as Macaulay Honors College, which provides free tuition, study abroad programs, and other benefits. For graduate aspirants, it has over 100 masters and certificate degree programs. The college allows students to choose any graduate major from various fields of study, including Arts, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Education, Library Science, Media, Psychology, and Risk Management.

 

ELI Path Program

QC offers an ELI Path Program for international students who meet all the requirements except English language proficiency. Students enrolling in this program get provisional admission to Queens College. On qualifying as per the progression standards, students can enrol in a program of their choice. Undergraduates must secure an ELI level of 7 or clear the exam with a score of 100 or more. They can also clear the Placement Exam conducted by CUNY to test a student’s reading and writing capabilities. The progression standards for graduates vary from one department to another.

Eligibility & Documents Required

What are the eligibility requirements?

International undergraduates must complete their high school studies before applying to a UG program. Subject-specific and score requirements can be found on the respective course pages. International applicants who do not belong to an English-speaking nation must provide any one of these English language scores:

English Proficiency Test	Minimum Expected Score
TOEFL iBT	61
TOEFL PBT	500
IELTS	6.0
PTE	44
Duolingo	95

 

Students applying to master-level programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college or an international equivalent. Also, their undergraduate grades must reflect a good grasp of concepts in their respective graduate courses. A minimum academic B grade is considered good enough to secure admission to graduate courses. However, if more than 10 years have passed since a student completed undergraduate studies, they might need to provide evidence of additional UG courses. Apart from this, any one of these exam scores will be accepted as proof of English proficiency:

English Proficiency Test	Minimum Expected Score
TOEFL iBT	100
IELTS (Academic Level)	7.0
Pearson Academic	68

 

Note: International students who have completed a full-time course with English as a second language need not provide English language test scores.

 

Conditional Admission to Graduate Programs

If students do not meet the international graduate requirements, they can be offered conditional admission. However, students must strive to have them withdrawn within a year or before crossing 12 graduate credits. A student with grades marginally below B will be provided admission on probation. During the probation period, students must earn an average grade of B (3.0) based on the initial 12 graduate credits. If students fail to do so, they will not be allowed to continue their graduate coursework.

 

The academic and English language requirements tend to vary from one program to another. Students should refer to the QC website for the exact details on application requirements. 

What all documents are needed for application?

All applicants must mail the transcripts to their respective Admissions Offices. The records of all secondary or post-secondary studies obtained from a school, college, institute, or university must be provided by applicants. The official transcripts should not be older than six months, and applicants must ensure they are sent without delay. The documents must be received directly by the issuing institution, as any documents sent by applicants themselves are not considered valid. Other application documents required are:

• English language test scores
• Financial documents
• Essay
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Resume
• Course-specific supplements

Application & Tuition Fees

Is there any application fees?

A non-refundable application fee of USD 65 must be paid by international undergraduate aspirants. For graduates programs, the application processing fee is a non-refundable amount of USD 75.

What is the fee structure of courses offered by the university?

QC calculates a student’s tuition based on the number of credits undertaken in a semester. For international applicants, the undergraduate credit rate is USD 620 or above and for graduates, it is USD 855 onwards. Here is an estimation of the annual tuition fee for international students where the minimum tuition rate includes 15 credits and the maximum tuition rate includes 25 credits:

 

 

The tuition fees get revised with progressive years. We encourage you to check the QC website for the exact fee structure for the current academic year.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Is there any scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

International students can apply for merit-based scholarships that offer awards between USD 250 and USD 2,500. These scholarships are offered only to full-time undergraduates who have applied to programs with 12 credits per semester. Students who have applied for full-time graduate programs with 9 credits per semester can also apply for these scholarships. The applications and deadlines may vary from one scholarship to another. Students must refer to the Scholarship List of QC Foundation to understand the application details and deadlines. Most scholarships offered by QC are merit-based. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to be eligible to apply for these scholarships. Entering graduates need to apply for scholarships by the first week of April.

Admission Process

When do the admissions start?

Graduate applications are considered every semester, but some programs admit students in the Fall semester only. On failing to get admission in a semester, students can reactivate their applications for the university to review them once again in the next intake.

 

Undergraduate programs at QC offer rolling admission to international students, while the deadline for graduate programs varies from one program to another. However, students applying from outside the US can follow the deadlines given below:

Intake	Deadline
Fall	Early February
Spring	Mid-September

What is the UG application process?

All undergraduate students need to apply online via the CUNY application portal: www.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/cuny-application/. The steps given below need to be followed while applying for a UG program:

 

Step 1: Click on ‘Start Your Application’ and create an account or sign in.

 

 

Step 2: After registering or signing in, you will need to enter all the details as asked.

 

 

Step 3: Select the appropriate Residency from the options provided below. International students must select 'None of the Above' and enter their country name once again.

 

 

Step 4: Language details also need to be filled in before clicking on the 'Next' option. Entering details about the family is optional. Finally, you can choose Queens College and its majors and click on the Next button.

 

 

Step 5: Other details of the form include educational experience, recommendations, etc., as shown in the image below. After filling in all these details, you can pay the application fee and submit the form.

 

 

What is the PG application process?

Graduate applicants need to check the programs available at QC and confirm their eligibility before initiating the application process. Applicants need to apply via the QC graduate application: form app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=qccunygrad. The application steps are given below:

 

Step 1: As a new user, create an account first.

 

 

Step 2: After selecting the username and password, click on the 'Start Application' button.

 

 

Step 3: Enter your personal information.

 

 

Step 4: After that, contact details and demographic data need to be filled up in the form. You can also fill in your ethnicity.

 

 

Step 5: Finally, after filling in all the details, users can click on the 'Submit' button to send the application form successfully.

 

 

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

Applications are usually reviewed by Queens College post the deadlines. Relevant updates are posted on the application portal. Students must regularly check the portal to track the status of their applications.

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

What are the chances to get into this university?

As academic qualifications of QC applicants are continuously improving, the application selection criteria are becoming more stringent, and the college is highly selective of candidates. The test scores and academic grades required to secure a seat at QC are comparable to the requirements of leading public universities.

 

All academic transcripts and records are evaluated while reviewing freshmen applications. It also includes the courses students attempted and cleared successfully during their high school studies. Extracurricular skills, unique talents, and experiences are also considered during the application review. Freshman applicants need to write an essay and submit a recommendation letter for admission to QC. Due to the pandemic, students need not provide scores on standardized tests such as SAT and ACT. This suspension applies to the Spring 2023 and Fall 2022 entry terms.

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

QC is home to 19,700 students, out of which male and female students constitute 42.9% and 57.1%, respectively. Two-thirds of undergraduate students have enrolled in full-time courses, while most graduates have enrolled in part-time courses. Its diversity is evident from the fact that undergraduates from over 145 countries who speak 87 different languages study here. Every year, the college hosts 600 to 650 new international students. The top 5 countries from where the most number of undergraduate students come are China, Bangladesh, South Korea, India and Guyana.

Part Time Work While Studying

Can I work while studying here?

International students with an F-1 visa can take up on-campus jobs and work up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session. During vacations, working up to 40 hours per week is permitted. Any work undertaken at the computer centre, library, or any academic department of the school, or work may constitute jobs undertaken as part of scholarships or assistantships offered to students. Working at other New York campuses of the university is also considered an on-campus job.

Other jobs inside the school premises: If a student works inside the campus for an external firm or contractor, it is also considered an on-campus job. For example, working in a food centre or book store on campus is considered an on-campus job even if it is not operated by the school.

 

Off-Campus Jobs

Students with F-1 status can also apply for jobs outside the campus if they are facing severe economic hardship. However, they can apply for off-campus jobs only if they are unable to find on-campus jobs. Off-campus jobs offered by research foundations, laboratories, and institutes affiliated with QC are also considered on-campus jobs.

The permitted working hours are the same for students who work outside the campus. Students must obtain the INS form I-9 from their employer and update it for eligibility verification. This form needs to be updated every time students renew their working authorization. Students need to comply with the employment regulations laid by QC during their employment period.

Internship offered by an international firm: Students can take up internships offered by recognized international firms, provided they hold an F-1 status. Such internships can be full-time or part-time, according to the instructions of their Foreign Student Advisor.

Note: Spouses, children, and other F-2 dependents of students cannot apply for employment. 

Campuses & Accommodation

How many colleges and campuses does the university have?

Queens College is spread over 80 acres of land in Manhattan and is accessible by road via the Long Island Expressway. New cafeterias and dining areas have been opened to provide good experiences to students. QC has extended its WIFI area to provide free WIFI to students who live inside the campus.

Is on-campus housing available?

Queens College offers accommodation in Summit Apartments, built as a residential complex inside the college campus. It is the first residence hall of QC inaugurated in the Fall of 2009 and is famously known as ‘The Summit’. Today, around 500 students stay in Summit Apartments.  The Summit has received LEED Gold Certification by the US Green Building Council for its green and sustainable design that minimizes energy and water wastage. It offers apartment-style rooms with a single bedroom and shared bedroom apartment options and its costs are:

Room Type	Annual Cost (In USD)
2 Bedrooms+2 Baths	11,136
4 Bedrooms+2 Baths	14,476

 

Living Expenses

The estimated living cost for international students for the academic year 2021-22 are given below:

Expense Type	Annual Expenses (In USD)
Books & Supplies	1,364
Transportation	1,122
Lunch	1,360
Additional Food Expenses	2,162
Miscellaneous Expenses	4,553
Total	10,561

Room rents are subject to change every semester/year. Also, additional costs may be applicable for certain rooms and facilities. Therefore, it is better to refer to the QC website for precise details on room rent and other costs. 

University Contact Information

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

If you have any doubts or queries, you can contact the college here:

Mail address: Queens College, CUNY 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Queens, NY 11367-1597,
USA

Telephone: +1-(718) 997-5000

Website: www.qc.cuny.edu