The City University of New York (CUNY) system has seven community colleges that provide affordable college education to students in New York.

Notable schools include Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), LaGuardia Community College (Queens), Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn), Bronx Community College (Bronx), Queensborough Community College, Hostos Community College, and Guttman Community College, while the College of Staten Island also offers four-year degree programs as a comprehensive campus.

The most popular school among Korean students is LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens.

LaGuardia is known for having a very high percentage of immigrant students, with students from over 150 countries studying together. It offers multilingual counseling services, including Korean, and well-established support programs for international students, as well as highly regarded ESL (English as a Second Language) courses for students with limited English proficiency. It is considered a practical option for newly settled Koreans to improve their English skills while earning college credits.

Tuition is also a significant advantage. As of 2026, for New York state residents, the cost is about $210 per credit, and for a typical full-time student completing 30 credits a year, the tuition is approximately $6,000 to $7,000 annually.

Including student fees, various charges, and textbook costs, the total educational expenses can be expected to be around $8,000 per year.

In contrast, out-of-state residents or international students pay about $320 per credit, leading to annual tuition costs of approximately $9,500 to $10,000, with total expenses around $12,000. This is quite economical compared to typical four-year public or private universities in the U.S.

BMCC (Borough of Manhattan Community College) is located in southern Manhattan, offering excellent subway access and a variety of practical majors, including business, computer information systems, accounting, liberal arts, and nursing. It is particularly popular as a transfer pathway for students moving on to CUNY four-year colleges like Baruch College, Hunter College, and City College.

Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn is famous for its beautiful campus near the sea. It offers a relatively relaxed atmosphere for studying, with strong programs in nursing and marine-related fields. Bronx Community College excels in healthcare and public service, while Queensborough Community College is conveniently located near the Queens area, where many Koreans reside.

CUNY community colleges also actively run continuing education programs. Adult learners, working professionals, and homemakers often prepare for new careers through courses in medical assistance, IT, accounting, real estate, English education, and certification programs. Additionally, students who meet income criteria can receive various financial aid, such as the federal Pell Grant and New York's TAP scholarship, significantly reducing their out-of-pocket tuition costs.

In the Korean community in New York, CUNY community colleges hold significance beyond just being two-year colleges. They serve as a gateway to starting college life in the U.S. at a relatively low cost, improving English skills, and transferring to prestigious four-year universities.

Considering the ability to commute from home while balancing studies and work, they are one of the most realistic and efficient educational options for Koreans preparing to settle in the U.S.