CUNY Medgar Evers College

The academic portfolio at Medgar Evers is career-oriented and anchored in fields that lead directly to employment or further professional study. The most popular majors are decidedly in STEM and professional disciplines:

• Physical Sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Business Administration
• Psychology
• Liberal Arts and Humanities

Programs are offered at both the associate and bachelor's degree levels. The college promotes its Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative, which supports students in select majors like Liberal Arts (all concentrations), Business Administration, and Science (with concentrations in Biology/Pre-Allied Health and Math) with the goal of accelerating degree completion. The student-faculty ratio is reported as 14:1, suggesting the potential for more personalized instruction within the classroom. The catalog also lists niche offerings like a minor in Cannabis Studies, indicating responsiveness to emerging fields.

Life at Medgar Evers is defined by its identity as a commuter campus in the heart of Central Brooklyn. The Office of Student Life & Development oversees clubs and organizations, fostering community for a student body that largely lives off-campus. Descriptions of the social scene are candid: many students describe it as "subdued," with "limited traditional college partying or vibrant campus nightlife." This isn't a school with a residential quad or Greek life; the energy is that of a place where students come for class, support services, and campus activities before heading to jobs, families, or homes across the city. The college emphasizes its "proud legacy of empowerment and social justice," a ethos that likely permeates student organizations and programming.

Outcome metrics at Medgar Evers tell a story of significant struggle and hard-won success, contextualized by the socio-economic challenges many of its students face. The six-year graduation rate is low, with sources reporting figures around 19% to 30%. However, this stark number is paired with powerful intervention programs. Students in the CUNY ASAP program, for example, achieve a much higher average three-year graduation rate of 47.4%. For those who persist and graduate, the median debt at graduation is relatively low, reported at $7,400. The median earnings ten years after entry are $46,498. The first-year retention rate is approximately 50%, highlighting the difficulty of the transition to college for many in the student body. These figures collectively paint a picture of an institution serving a high-need population where graduation represents a major triumph.

Affordability is a central pillar of Medgar Evers College's value proposition. The average net price after aid is remarkably low. A vast majority—89%—of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid. Financial aid is categorized as "free money" (grants and work-study) and "borrowed money" (loans). The college participates in standard federal loan programs, including both subsidized loans (based on financial need) and unsubsidized loans (available regardless of need). There is no indication in the provided sources that Medgar Evers College has a "no-loan" policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students without loans; its aid packaging appears to follow typical federal and state guidelines. The primary appeal is the low sticker price for a four-year degree and the high likelihood of receiving grant aid to reduce it further.

Medgar Evers College stands out not for selectivity or sprawling campus life, but for its unwavering commitment to a specific, underserved population in one of New York City's most historic boroughs. It is an institution of tangible, gritty purpose. Its namesake evokes a legacy of civil rights and empowerment, which it operationalizes through direct support programs like CUNY ASAP that are proven to dramatically boost graduation rates for students in associate degree tracks. The college makes no pretenses; it's a commuter school where the social scene is quiet because students are balancing work, family, and study. Its standout quality is this clear-eyed mission: to provide an accessible, low-cost, career-focused education with wraparound support, serving as a critical engine of upward mobility for the community of Central Brooklyn. Success here is measured differently, and for the students it serves, a degree from Medgar Evers is a transformative achievement.