Why Study in (or near!) New York as a College Student?
Few cities around the world are as iconic and revered as New York City. With its vastly diverse populations, thriving entertainment scene, globalized business hub and much more, there’s no other place quite like it.
If you’re a college student making plans for your future, studying in New York opens doors to some of the nation’s leading universities and exciting career opportunities and helps you embrace a vibrant, unforgettable student experience.
Discover the endless possibilities that await you when you begin your college journey in NYC and its surrounding areas.
Top 8 Reasons to Attend College in the NYC Area
1. Access to Top-Ranked Universities
New York City has a rich academic history and stands as an international center for innovation, creativity and discovery. Here, students from around the world gather to study at prestigious universities and colleges, embark on ground-breaking research projects, and hone their skills and talents. And you could be one of them.
Iona University, a top-ranked private university, takes a student-focused approach, ensuring you receive the rigorous academic training, career guidance and personal growth necessary to thrive. Located just 20 miles north of midtown Manhattan in New Rochelle, Iona ranked #66 nationwide in the Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. based on student outcomes and graduate salaries. WSJ also ranked Iona #1 in New York for student experience.
2. Explore Unparalleled Professional Opportunities
New York City, home to tech companies, nonprofits, Fortune 500 corporations and diverse businesses, serves as a launchpad for your future. Studying near NYC places you at the center of competitive career opportunities, offering access to prestigious internships and co-op placements that deliver transformative experiences. Here, you can immediately apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, which enriches your expertise, diversifies your skill set and builds your work ethic. This hands-on learning also helps you clarify your professional goals and formulate a clear career path.
Whether you’re a finance major at the LaPenta School of Business or earning your bachelor’s degree in media and strategic communication, studying at Iona simultaneously equips you with specialized knowledge and competencies and puts you in close proximity to exciting job opportunities.
3. Tap Into a Growing Networking Pool
With more than eight million people and counting, New York City stands as one of the most populated cities in the United States. This concentration of people creates a vibrant network for connection and collaboration. Business leaders, tech innovators, artists, activists, and entrepreneurs flock to NYC to work hard and make their dreams a reality. Here, you can find like-minded individuals who act as mentors, provide guidance and help connect you to life-changing opportunities.
Iona’s Career Development team supports you along your journey to success. We offer an array of resources, including refining your résumé and cover letter, helping you find internships, hosting networking events and career fairs, and more. Additionally, you can take advantage of Iona’s thriving alumni network. With more than 50,000 alumni, there are countless opportunities awaiting you.
4. Immerse Yourself in a Global Hub
New York City embodies the idea of a cultural “melting pot.” For hundreds of years, people from all around the world have moved here for work, family or a fresh start. They’ve brought their stories, traditions, language, music and food with them and built their homes throughout NYC’s five boroughs. Because of this cultural mixing and mingling, New York City is an epicenter of globalization. Here, you expand your worldview and gain a new understanding and respect for how diverse and vastly beautiful humanity is.
Iona University’s student community emulates a similar multicultural environment. With more than 30 countries represented, our student community brings learners from around the world together to pursue their passions. We also offer over 80 different clubs and organizations, such as Iona International and Bailando con Sazón, cultivating a campus experience that celebrates our students’ heritage and facilitates meaningful cultural exchange.
5. Cultivate a Strong Sense of Independence
Spending time in NYC coaxes you out of your comfort zone. Because of its sheer size, fast-paced rhythm, and overall hustle and bustle, you must become adaptable to unknown environments. Build your confidence as you master the subway system, discover which neighborhoods suit your liking, meet new people from around the world and tackle the little challenges that arise from living in a dense metropolitan area. The instincts and independence you develop here stay with you long after graduation and help you remain flexible when changes arise.
In close proximity to New York City, Iona has campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville, which provide a more suburban on-campus environment and easy access to NYC. With just a 30-minute train ride, you arrive in the heart of Manhattan, ready to explore.
6. Enjoy Some of the Best Food in the World
New York City has no shortage of restaurants, cafes, diners and delis to explore. Because of the city’s richly diverse communities and populations, you can enjoy food from Senegal, Dominican Republic, Poland or Taiwan. And through your culinary adventures, you meet new people, engage with different cultures and learn more about the city you call home.
Looking for recommendations on places to try? Whether lifelong New Yorkers or NYC transplants, Iona's faculty and staff know the city's best spots to grab a bite to eat.
7. Create a One-of-a-Kind Student Experience
Attending college near New York City can enrich your student life drastically. The culture, history and diversity woven into the fabric of city life inspire you at every turn, and there’s no shortage of experiences and adventures. Outside of the classroom, you have the freedom to roam and have access to iconic attractions, such as:
- Broadway
- Central Park
- Empire State Building
- Museum of Natural History
- Rockefeller Center
- Statue of Liberty
- Times Square
There are also opportunities to make niche discoveries. Whether you find a favorite cafe where you can study or chart out the perfect route through the city’s corridors, New York City is ready for you to explore all it has to offer.
8. Centrally Located to Other East Coast Destinations
Studying in New York grants you access to other key East Coast cities. Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and even international locales, such as Toronto and Montreal, are all just a train or plane ride away. Close proximity to these major metropolitan hubs opens up even more career opportunities for you to tackle and expand your professional network. Or, if you simply want to explore for personal interests, you can take a weekend trip to any of these cities and scout out their vibrant cultures, food scenes and more.
Need a lift to New Rochelle Transportation Center to catch a train to one of these locales? Iona’s Gael Express offers free shuttle transportation from our campus locations to the train station, so you can travel with ease and convenience.
Study at Iona University—A Premier College in NY and the Nation
Since 1940, Iona University has delivered an education that encourages you to learn outside the lines. We create a transformative student experience through high-quality curricula, a service-learning approach and a dedication to your holistic growth, which can help you discover your potential.
Iona has two campus locations—New Rochelle and Bronxville—both of which are just a 30-minute train ride from Manhattan. Whether you seek the serenity of a suburban campus or the fast-paced rhythm of NYC, studying at Iona gives you the best of both worlds.
While every student journey at Iona University is one-of-a-kind, we work hard to ensure it’s a journey filled with engaging academics, real-world preparation, experiential learning and unforgettable memories.
Find your community at Iona. Learn more about our admissions process and requirements, or take the next step toward becoming a Gael and submit your application!