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 is a small, career-focused institution in Forest Hills, NY, with a tight-knit student body (80% female) and a sharp focus on health sciences and business programs. Its 30% acceptance rate makes it selective for a two-year college, and its 64% graduation rate far outpaces the national average for similar schools—though early-career earnings lag behind peers. The vibe is practical and supportive, with white-coat ceremonies for health students and a financial aid team that works to make its $19,860 annual cost manageable.
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
Top Programs
Health Sciences, Business Admin
Acceptance Rate
30%
Female Students
80.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Student-Faculty Ratio
25:1
Avg. Annual Cost After Aid
$17,923
Median Early-Career Earnings
$32,282
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
89%
First-generation share
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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
Plaza College is selective for a two-year institution, with a 30% acceptance rate—putting it in the top 8% of hardest U.S. colleges to get into, per EduRank. The admissions process is competitive, with 1,000 female applicants and only 300 accepted in one recent cycle (Peterson’s). Notably, the school doesn’t publicize SAT/ACT ranges, suggesting a holistic or Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. approach. Its selectivity contrasts with typical community colleges, aligning more with specialized professional schools.
Plaza’s academic identity revolves around career-ready programs, particularly in health sciences (like Surgical Technology and Dental Support Services) and (Healthcare Management, Accounting). Classes are small, with a , and the curriculum emphasizes practical skills—evidenced by rites of passage like white-coat ceremonies for health students. The college offers associate and bachelor’s degrees, with 87% of awards going to undergraduates in applied fields. Notably, the school lacks liberal arts breadth, focusing instead on direct workforce preparation.
With 846 undergraduates (80% female, per U.S. News), Plaza fosters a close-knit, professionally oriented community. Instagram highlights show students celebrating milestones like white-coat ceremonies, while the DEIB statement emphasizes cultural awareness training. There’s no mention of traditional college staples like dorms or athletics—unsurprising for a commuter school. Instead, engagement focuses on career prep, with blogs touting ‘behind-the-scenes moments’ in labs and clinics. The vibe is less ‘rah-rah college’ and more ‘let’s get you employed.’
Plaza’s 64% graduation rate (College Scorecard) crushes the 35% midpoint for two-year schools—a testament to its supportive environment. But post-grad pay lags: median earnings six years out are $32,282 (U.S. News), with early-career grads averaging just $20,000 (College Factual)—$7K below expectations. Health sciences dominate degrees awarded (Data USA), yet salaries suggest these are lower-paying niches like dental assisting. The ‘white coat’ pomp doesn’t always translate to white-collar paychecks.
At $19,860 annually (College Scorecard), Plaza costs double the midpoint for two-year schools ($9,666). But 64% of students receive aid, with an average package of $10,217 (BigFuture), bringing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $17,923. The school actively promotes its financial aid team to help students tap grants and scholarships. Still, the ROI is questionable: graduates earn less than peers from similar programs, and the net price exceeds many CUNY options.
Plaza defies two-year college stereotypes with its 30% acceptance rate and strong grad rates, but it’s a trade-off. You get tight-knit cohorts, health-focused rituals, and career services—yet pay premium tuition for degrees that, per earnings data, may not outpace cheaper alternatives. Ideal for students seeking a structured path into allied health or business support roles, but less compelling for those eyeing higher-paying fields or transferable liberal arts credits.
Plaza College logo · sourcePlaza College | Take the first step towards a bright future · sourcePlaza College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceVirtual Tour of Our Campus | Plaza College · source
