CUNY Lehman College

Public · Moderately Selective · NY

Photo: Tdorante10 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationNY · Northeast

SettingUrban

Undergrads10,696

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate31.5%

6-yr grad rate51.3%

Drop-out rate26.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$7k

Out-of-state tuition$15k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity96%

Gender diversity65%

International3.3%

Identity—

Overview

Lehman College is CUNY's senior college in the Bronx, distinguished by a green, gated campus that feels more traditional and enclosed than many of its CUNY counterparts. It serves as a Hispanic-serving institution and a major engine of upward mobility for New York City students, most of whom commute from throughout the Bronx and beyond. Lehman has built a particular identity as an anchor institution for the Bronx, with strong ties to the borough's schools, hospitals, and community organizations.

Academics

Nursing, education, and the liberal arts are Lehman's core strengths, with many students pursuing degrees that lead directly into New York City's schools, hospitals, and social service agencies. The Department of Nursing and the School of Education both carry strong regional reputations for producing licensed, work-ready graduates. Programs tend to be practically oriented, preparing students for licensure and immediate regional employment rather than an academic or research-track path, though the liberal arts core still gives students a broad general education.

Campus & student life

The gated, green campus gives Lehman a more contained, traditional feel than a typical urban commuter school, with a real quad and mature trees that stand out in the Bronx. Most students still live off campus and balance coursework with jobs or family obligations rather than participating in a residential social scene, and the campus draws heavily from the surrounding Bronx neighborhoods for both its student body and its sense of community identity.

Getting in

Admission follows CUNY's transcript- and test-based approach rather than heavy holistic review, with competitive nursing and education programs requiring stronger academic records than general admission to the college. Many students transfer in from CUNY community colleges, and Lehman's admissions process is built to accommodate that pipeline as much as first-time freshmen.

After graduation

Lehman's nursing and education graduates move directly into Bronx and citywide hospitals and public schools, and the college's placement in those fields benefits from deep, long-standing relationships with local employers. Social work and human services graduates likewise find ready placement in the Bronx's dense network of nonprofits and city agencies.

Worth knowing

Lehman's role as a Hispanic-serving institution and a low-cost, high-mobility option makes it a particularly strong value for Bronx and CUNY-eligible students focused on nursing, education, or social work careers close to home. Its enclosed, green campus is also worth knowing about for students who want a more traditional collegiate feel without leaving the CUNY system's affordability.

lehman.cuny.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate56.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 850–1150

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Regular decisionFeb 1

Applying