Jamaica, in south-east Queens, is a busy transit crossroads, and York College sits a couple of blocks from its subway and Long Island Rail Road stations. It is a senior college of the City University of New York, founded in 1966. York is known for health sciences, including a physician assistant programme and occupational therapy, and for aviation management, helped by JFK Airport a few miles away. The FDA's Northeast regional laboratory is on campus.
Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States
Official website: york.cuny.edu
1966
Senior college, City University of New York
Jamaica, Queens
$18,000 – $22,000
Non-resident undergraduate tuition and fees
$20,000 – $25,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on york.cuny.edu before you apply.
BS Aviation Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Accounting
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Pharmaceutical Sciences
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
MS Physician Assistant Studies
Masters DegreeDuration
27 Months
Intake
Jun
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Occupational Therapy
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Aviation management close to JFK Airport.
A physician assistant master's inside CUNY.
Very low tuition by New York City standards.
Aviation graduates work for airlines and airport operators at JFK and LaGuardia.
Health graduates join New York City hospitals and clinics after licensure.
Graduates can work in the US on OPT after their degree.
Undergrad
1 Feb 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Selected programmes
The campus is modern and urban, with most classes in one large academic building. Jamaica Center, at the end of the E, J and Z subway lines, is next door, and the AirTrain to JFK starts nearby.
Queens is one of the most international places in the US, with food from every region. Rent is cheaper than Manhattan, and Midtown is about forty minutes away by subway.
Form I-20 issued by York College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
International undergraduates apply through the CUNY application, with a priority deadline of 1 February for fall. Spring applications are accepted where places remain. Graduate health programmes have their own deadlines, often in autumn or winter.
Most undergraduates start in fall (August) or spring (January). The physician assistant programme starts in summer, and occupational therapy in fall.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from York College first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Aviation management, accounting, pharmaceutical sciences, physician assistant studies and occupational therapy are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school records evaluated through CUNY and English at about IELTS 6.0. Graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree with prerequisite science courses.
CUNY has few scholarships for international students, but tuition is already low. Some departmental awards open up after your first year.
