City University of New York

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, 5 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, 7 community colleges, and 7 honors and professional schools located throughout the City’s five boroughs, employing thousands of academic, administrative, and facility personnel.

Major Programs

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 2024 enrollment data, approximately 238,000 full and part-time CUNY students are pursuing studies ranging from one-year certificate programs to doctorates.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $6.4 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:

• Local Assistance. $2.2 billion in local assistance appropriations that provide General Fund support to CUNY, an increase of $130 million from FY 2025;
• Capital Projects. $497 million in new appropriations and $4.4 billion in reappropriations for capital projects. The new FY 2026 appropriation total is $16 million higher than the FY 2025 Enacted Budget Capital Plan; and
• Enterprise Funds. $3.7 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 $271 million from FY 2025 to FY 2026.

Increase State Support for CUNY Campuses by $131 Million

The Executive Budget provides $131 million in new State support for CUNY senior colleges in academic year 2026. This increased funding includes:

• $96 million for recurring general operating support;
• $22 million for university employee fringe benefits;
• $8 million for Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE) and Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), which support academic and career advisement, tuition grants, textbooks, and transportation costs; and
• $5 million for artificial intelligence investments

Advance Additional State Support to Help Cover CUNY Collective Bargaining Costs

The Executive Budget provides CUNY with $192 million in June 2025 to cover the lump-sum payments from the general salary increases of 3%, effective in 2023 and 2024, and one-time bonuses under the recently ratified Professional Staff Congress contract, representing an advance on funding that CUNY would otherwise receive in the following academic year.

Fund Free Community College in High-Demand Occupations

The Executive Budget provides CUNY community colleges with $18.8 million to cover the remaining costs of tuition, fees, and books for students ages 25-55 pursuing select associates degrees in high-demand occupations, including nursing, teaching, technology, and engineering.

Maintain the Community College Funding Floor

The Executive Budget maintains a funding floor for community colleges at 100% of prior year funding. Without a funding floor, CUNY community colleges would face a $48 million (22%) loss in formula aid due to enrollment declines.

Invest in CUNY Facilities

The FY 2026 Executive Budget includes $497 million in new appropriations and $4.4 billion in reappropriations to support infrastructure improvements at CUNY. The new appropriations provide: $417 million in new capital appropriations for CUNY senior college projects ($284 million for critical maintenance, $133 million for research facilities), $35 million for community college projects, and $45 million for CUNY capital program administration.

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

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025