The College of Westchester

Carnegie Foundation Classification

Associate's — Private For-profit

General Characteristics

Highest offering	Associate's degree
Calendar System	Quarter
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification

The College of Westchester Academics

For those looking for a small, private institution close to the bustle of the Big Apple but far enough away to enjoy a more relaxed, suburban campus, The College of Westchester is an excellent choice. Formerly known as The Westchester Business Institute, The College of Westchester was founded in 1915 and has served the tri-state area for decades, providing four-year undergraduate programs in a variety of subjects. While most of its programs grant Associate’s Degrees or other certifications, The College of Westchester also offers a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, as well as a Associate’s in Applied Science and an Associate’s in Occupational Studies.

Most students enrolled at The College of Westchester are pursuing knowledge in business, digital media, and information technologies. For those who believe in the importance of forward-thinking programs geared around understand various computer operating systems and other fresh technology, the college offers a number of classes and programs with an emphasis on certification in various computer languages and networks, as well as various certifications from Microsoft. The college is a member of the Computer Technology Industry Association and the Microsoft Certified Solution Provider program, meaning that much of the studies in these areas are up to the latest industry standards.

Most of the degrees and classes at The College of Westchester are geared towards preparing students for actual jobs and careers almost immediately after graduating from school. The BBA degree combines earning one’s associate and bachelor’s degree at the same time, and has a sharply honed focus on business classes, meaning less time spent on completing non-related electives. The school offers students the ability to complete classes online exclusively, as well as with a combination of online and in-person classes.

Many classes are available in the evenings, as well, and internships are often integrated into the program in hopes of getting students prepared to enter the workforce. Other popular programs include technology-based certificates in various wired fields, including game design, digital video and animation, and web design and development, all through the digital media department.

The College of Westchester Admissions

The College of Westchester provides both recent high school graduates as well as adult students interested in completing degrees through night classes with the opportunity to gain professional job skills that are up-to-date and essential in a rapidly shifting world.

Students interested in attending The College of Westchester can either fill out a Day Application, appropriate for full-time day students, or an Evening/Saturday application, which is for after-hours classes.

As such a small school, with less than 1000 students, The College of Westchester recommends scheduling a campus visit, then establishing an admissions counselor. He or she can help answer any questions about the admissions process, and assist in the filling out of the application.

Students can start either in the fall or in the spring terms. The College of Westchester will accept CLEP test scores that are above the 50th percentile on any subject exams that students have taken and also grants credits for those transfer students with comparable courses from their previous academic institution.

The College of Westchester also grants credit for those Advanced Placement, or AP courses, that high school students completed and received a grade of 3 or higher on the final exam for. Satisfactory grades on proficiency tests also allow incoming students to begin their academic career at The College of Westchester in more advanced classes.

The College of Westchester Financial Aid

After acceptance, it is helpful for students to meet directly with a College of Westchester financial aid officer to figure out the best course of action to pay for school. Both state and federal financial aid is available through the college for those students who qualify.

The College of Westchester also offers a number of merit and need-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Meeting with a financial aid officer or filling out a form on the website gives prospective students access to exactly what each of those scholarship opportunities entails.

In addition to institutional scholarships, it is possible for students to receive a variety of grants from the college. There are a number of school-based loans and payment plans as well, handled on an annual basis. For students who complete the FAFSA, there is also the opportunity to participate in Federal Work-Study, which allows part-time work on the school’s campus while enrolled in classes.

The College of Westchester Students

The student population of The College of Westchester is a diverse mixture of ages. The college is a popular school choice for the tri-state area, with many students interested in pursuing technology and business related degrees being particularly drawn to the school.

With less than 1000 students total, The College of Westchester is a popular choice for those students seeking a smaller private school with personal attention. Many students choose to attend non-traditionally timed classes, such as those at night and on the weekends, because they are working during the daytime.

The average age of a student at The College of Westchester is older, due to the fact that so many students are enrolled who are working on a second degree or heading back to school. The college is also very popular with those seeking classes in designing for the computer, as well as for members of the military, thanks to the school’s special attention for those serving the country.

The College of Westchester Traditions

The College of Westchester community strengthens its bonds through a number of different on-campus clubs and organizations. Additionally, there are special events throughout the year, such as a school-wide faculty/student softball game, for relaxing and taking a break from studying.

Both Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Beta Delta, an official honor society and a special business honor society, have chapters on campus. The organizations focus on a level of achievement and success, and encouraging students to follow their dreams and achieve their goals.

A number of clubs on campus are a great way for students to get to know their peers traditionally. Whether it’s the accounting society, the computer science club, student government, the multimedia club, or the network technology association, there’s something for everyone.

Every year, students at The College of Westchester enjoy a variety of different holiday parties before the winter break. It is also a campus-wide tradition to host speakers for Black History Month, Hispanic History Month, and Women’s History Month.