How Do You Choose an Undergraduate Degree in NYC?

Updated

Start by deciding what you want to study, where you want to be, and how you want to attend class—then match those three answers against a school's program list. In New York City, that means comparing degree types (BA vs. BS), campus location (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, or a suburban campus), and format (in-person, hybrid, or online). St. John's University, for example, is a private Catholic university in Queens with more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs, plus online, hybrid, and in-person options. Use the steps below to narrow your list before you apply.

Step 1: Match the degree type to your field

Not every major awards the same degree, and the letters matter for graduate school and some employers.

Degree Typical fields What it signals
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Humanities, social sciences, some health fields Broader liberal arts base, more electives
Bachelor of Science (BS) STEM, business, health sciences More technical or quantitative coursework

St. John's lists examples of both: a BS in Computer Science, a BS in Finance, a BS in Criminal Justice, and a BA in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. If you're unsure, check whether the graduate programs you might want later require a specific degree type.

Step 2: Filter by academic area, not just major name

Schools group programs into broader areas, which helps you browse when you don't know the exact major yet. St. John's organizes undergraduate study into areas including:

  • Computing & Technology
  • Business
  • Nursing, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
  • Law, Policy & Government
  • Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Within an area you'll find majors, minors, and related programs. For example, the Law, Policy & Government area includes a BS in Criminal Justice alongside a minor in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology—so you can pair a primary major with a complementary minor.

Step 3: Decide on format and location

These two choices often eliminate more schools than academics do.

Format: St. John's offers online, hybrid, and in-person options, so you can pick a schedule that fits work or family commitments. If you need to keep a job, confirm whether your intended major is actually offered in your preferred format—not every program is available every way.

Location: A Queens campus puts you near Manhattan internships without Manhattan rent. Students in the St. John's materials intern at organizations such as Bloomberg, W.R. Berkley Corporation, and Real Chemistry, and join clubs like Women on Wall Street and the President's Society. If internship access is a priority, map the commute from campus to the industries you care about.

Step 4: Compare public, private, and religious-affiliated schools

The type of institution shapes cost, class size, and campus culture.

  • Public (CUNY/SUNY): Lower sticker price, especially for in-state students; larger lecture courses are common.
  • Private: Higher sticker price, often smaller classes and more advising; financial aid packages vary widely.
  • Religious-affiliated private: Adds a mission and values component. St. John's is a private Catholic university with a Vincentian service mission, which means service and volunteering are built into campus life rather than optional extras.

Don't compare sticker prices alone. Ask each school for its net price calculator and its typical aid package before you rule it out.

Step 5: Prepare application materials and watch deadlines

Most NYC undergraduate applications require:

  1. Completed application (Common App or the school's own)
  2. High school transcript
  3. Letters of recommendation
  4. Personal essay
  5. Standardized test scores, if required by that school
  6. Application fee or fee waiver

Deadlines cluster around early action (fall of senior year) and regular decision (winter). St. John's directs prospective students to connect with its Office of Admission for program-specific questions, and admitted students can pay an enrollment and housing deposit through the admission portal. Confirm each school's exact dates on its own admission page—they change year to year.

Step 6: Evaluate outcomes, not just brochures

Before committing, ask each school:

  • What internships do students in my major actually get?
  • What's the four-year graduation rate for my program?
  • Which clubs, research roles, or service programs connect to my goals?

St. John's, for instance, highlights undergraduate research assistant roles, the University Honors Program, and service programs like Midnight Run. Those are concrete ways to build experience alongside coursework—but verify they're open to students in your major and year.

A quick decision path

  1. Name two or three possible majors.
  2. Check which degree type (BA/BS) each requires.
  3. Choose your format: in-person, hybrid, or online.
  4. Pick a location you can realistically commute to or live near.
  5. Compare net price, not sticker price, across public, private, and religious-affiliated options.
  6. Confirm deadlines and required materials for each school on your shortlist.

If you want a large program catalog, flexible formats, and a Queens base with Manhattan internship access, a school like St. John's fits that profile. If lowest cost is the priority, start with public options. Either way, apply the six steps above before you submit anything.