Fashion is big business and no other school understands this quite like the
New York City College of Technology (City Tech). Located in Brooklyn, it's among the best fashion schools in New York City, especially for those who want to work in the corporate side of the industry. Its more meticulous approach to teaching about the business of fashion is a stark and arguably refreshing contrast to the more design-centric courses other higher educational institutions provide. Here, you'll learn about various parts of the business, including merchandising, marketing, production, and more.
Source: Wikimedia Commons /Ajay Suresh
History of City Tech
The City University of New York (CUNY) founded the
New York City College of Technology in 1946 to help returning GIs from the Second World War find a place in the new workforce. It was first named “The New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences” and became one of the biggest public colleges in the city. Over the years, the college, commonly referred to as “City Tech,” went through various iterations. It started as an academic institute, then became a community college, and in 1980, eventually transitioned into an official senior college.
What Does City Tech Look Like?
You'll find City Tech's campus in Downtown Brooklyn, one of the liveliest
neighborhoods in New York City. The school occupies nine buildings within the district, some devoted to specific departments while others house the college administration, the school library, and the like. All of them share the same aesthetic—modern architecture with a hint of brutalism. These cube-like campuses offer more than enough space for its diverse range of programs, be it for business courses, liberal arts, or technology & design. And though the school only offers one fashion program—the Bachelor’s degree in the Business and Technology of Fashion (BTF)—it also has ample space for exhibitions, fashion shows, and more.
Source: Wikimedia Commons /Ajay Suresh
The City Tech Student Body
Since it's now a public college in New York City, City Tech boasts one of the biggest student bodies in the whole metropolis. The school welcomes about 13,000 to 17,000 enrollees per year, including both new applicants and returning students. It also has a huge international student percentage, commonly around 4.0% per year. Most of the other students come from other parts of the city (84.8%), other parts of NY State (9.0%), and other US States (2.7%). This just goes to show that while City Tech remains a local New York school at its core, it always welcomes students from different parts of the world.
City Tech's Best Programs and Courses
Regarding fashion, City Tech only has a Bachelor’s degree in the Business and Technology of Fashion (BTF). Sure, it's extremely limited compared to what
New York City's most prominent fashion schools offer, but it's nothing to scoff at either. Though the college only focuses on one side of the industry, it teaches and applies different fields in fashion too. Upon enrolling, you can also choose a specialization you'll center your studies on. The choices include fashion merchandising administration, global fashion, innovation in e-commerce, and textile studies.
Source: CUNY New York City College of Technology
City Tech’s Prerequisites
Since City Tech's only fashion program is an undergraduate course, the prerequisites you need to submit aren't as complicated as those pursuing a Master's degree. You only truly need a high school diploma and school transcripts. What they'll be strict on is your grades. You need at least a minimum of 75 average (or at least a 650 on the GED/HSE exam), and an intermediate proficiency in English if you're an international applicant. And speaking of international students, you'll need the equivalence of these American test scores from the grades you've received in your secondary education in your home country.
How Much Does It Cost to Study at City Tech?
The tuition you have to pay will depend on whether you're a full-time student or not and whether you're a resident student or not. For example, the tuition for full-time students who have applied for residency in the school is $3,465.00 per semester. Part-time resident students, on the other hand, have to pay around $305.00 per credit. As for non-residents, the tuition fee is $620.00 per credit for both full-time and part-time enrollees. For online degree students, it's $350.00 per credit. And for all non-degree programs, it's $915.00 per credit.
Where is City Tech in New York City?
As already mentioned, City Tech is located in the Brooklyn
Borough of New York City, specifically its famous Downtown area. It's an urban district with various commercial areas, community-led residence blocks, and cultural attractions. It's a great place for students as it places you right smack at the center of all the action. This is where you'll experience city living in Brooklyn, which is different but still as fast-paced as living in Manhattan. At the same time, you'd barely have to worry about accommodations too. If you didn't enroll as a resident student in City Tech, you can still
rent a luxury apartment in New York City. There are many near the school.
Source: CUNY New York City College of Technology
Learn all about the business of fashion in the New York City College of Technology. Its sole fashion program leans more on the corporate side of the industry, making it one of the more unique fashion schools in New York City.
