Admit rate has held near 30% across the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Plaza College in Forest Hills, New York, operates with the focused intensity of a career launchpad rather than a traditional liberal arts campus. It’s a predominantly female, commuter-oriented institution where the academic culture is unapologetically pragmatic, anchored by health sciences and business programs designed for direct entry into the workforce. With a selective 30% acceptance rate and a graduation rate that far outpaces the midpoint for two-year colleges, Plaza positions itself as a high-engagement, high-outcome alternative for students seeking a clear, accelerated path to a professional credential.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
984
In-state tuition
$15,450
Out-of-state tuition
$15,450
Application Fee
$100
Graduation Rate
68%
Gender Distribution
80.1% Female, 19.9% Male
Median Earnings (10yr)
$31,519
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
25:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$31,519
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.6×
Median debt at graduation
$20,751
Graduation rate
68%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
31%
Pell (lower-income) share
85%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
48%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Financial health
2.8 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Health and Medical Administrative Services$38,289
Business Administration, Management and Operations$35,327
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
54.4"
Annual snow
17.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
0
Scholarly works
0
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.7%
Bottom → top quintile
8%
From bottom quintile
45%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Plaza College?
Plaza College's acceptance rate is approximately 30% (Forest Hills, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Plaza College cost?
At Plaza College, the average net price (after aid) is about $19,860 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Plaza College?
Plaza College enrolls approximately 984 undergraduate students.
Where is Plaza College located?
Plaza College is located in Forest Hills, NY.
Admissions
Getting into Plaza College is a competitive proposition, with the institution admitting only 30% of its applicants. This selectivity places it firmly in the 'selective' category. While the sources do not provide specific SAT/ACT ranges or average GPA for admitted students, the consistent 30% across multiple authoritative outlets underscores a structured, evaluative process. Prospective students should be prepared to submit a complete application, which includes a $100 fee. The admissions landscape is shaped by data reported through the , a standardized tool colleges use to share key statistics on applicants, admits, and enrollment. Factors like 'demonstrated interest'—a student's level of engagement with a college—are often detailed in section C7 of the CDS, though Plaza's specific stance on this factor is not detailed in the provided sources. Similarly, while early decision programs often boast higher acceptance rates at some institutions, the provided sources do not indicate that Plaza College offers or publicizes an Early Decision program.
The academic experience at Plaza is defined by career-focused efficiency. The college offers 13 majors through a curriculum taught by experienced educators, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 25:1. The programs provide a 'solid foundation' with a pronounced emphasis on health sciences. The most popular majors reflect this professional orientation:
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Other health professions and related programs
Graduate programs, like the M.S. in Healthcare Administration, are designed to directly shape professional practice through courses in management, leadership, ethics, and operations. This isn't a place for intellectual meandering; it's for building a specific, marketable skill set with urgency.
Life at Plaza College is that of a commuter campus deeply integrated with the rhythms of Queens, New York. The student body is overwhelmingly female, with a gender distribution of 80.1% female and 19.9% male students. There's no mention of traditional residential housing, Greek life, or collegiate sports, centering the experience on academics and professional development. The college strives to cultivate an atmosphere for professional growth both on and off campus, offering students a variety of opportunities to get involved through student engagement initiatives. The campus culture is documented through a blog and social media that showcase student stories, achievements, and behind-the-scenes moments. Practical support, like IT tutorials on common student apps, underscores the no-nonsense, supportive environment geared toward navigating college logistics successfully.
Outcomes are the central metric of Plaza College's value proposition. Its graduation rate of 68% dramatically outpaces the 35% midpoint for two-year colleges, signaling effective student support and a focused curriculum. For first-time, full-time students, the on-time graduation rate is reported as 63%. The financial return is measured in early-career earnings: graduates report a median income of $31,519 ten years after entry. More near-term data shows earnings of $35,773 one year after graduation and $38,599 five years after, indicating steady wage growth. These figures collectively paint a picture of an institution that successfully prepares its graduates for entry into and advancement within their chosen fields, particularly in healthcare and business.
The published average after aid for Plaza College is $19,860. Other sources estimate a net price of $17,923 per year after scholarships and grants, with an average financial aid package of $10,217. Aid is widely distributed, with 93% of students receiving some form of grant aid. The average institutional grant is $2,113, and the average federal grant is $5,497. The college provides a Net Price Calculator to help families estimate their individual cost after factoring in state and federal aid for which they might qualify. It's important to note that the provided sources do not indicate that Plaza College has a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a 'no-loan' policy where loans are excluded from aid packages for qualifying students.
Plaza College stands out for its singular, unwavering focus on career readiness within a compressed timeframe. It defies the typical community college profile with a surprisingly selective 30% and a graduation rate nearly double the national midpoint for two-year schools. This creates a distinct environment: a high-barrier, high-engagement commuter campus where students, predominantly women, are on a clear mission. There are no sprawling quads or football teams—the vibe is professional, supportive, and intensely practical, from its health sciences-driven curriculum to its IT tutorials. Its value is measured directly in outcomes: a degree that leads to a job, with earnings data showing consistent growth. In a higher education landscape often criticized for indecision and debt, Plaza offers a stark, efficient alternative for students who know where they want to go and want a direct route to get there.
Plaza College seal · sourcePlaza College | Take the first step towards a bright future · sourceVirtual Tour of Our Campus | Plaza College · sourcePlaza College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
