Frequently Asked Questions

If you have an international transcript from any other country besides Canada, your international transcript must be evaluated by a professional agency from the member list on the NACES website. Evaluations must include a course-by-course analysis indicating the type of degree received, accreditation, the U.S. equivalency of the degree, the graduation date, and a cumulative grade point average. The course evaluation must show that you received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the United States from an accredited institution. All academic credentials must be verified. 

While we don’t recommend one organization over another, the most common evaluations that we see are from World Education Services (WES), The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) and Education Credential Evaluators (ECE). If you decide to use The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran), please refer to the Newmark J-School The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) Pathway to ensure you receive a discount and correct evaluation.

The international credential evaluation must be received by the application deadline date and indicate that you received a degree from an accredited institution equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Evaluations may take weeks or months to complete. It is strongly recommended to begin the process early to ensure your application is completed on time. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants who have not studied and earned a degree in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand or Australia are required to take an English-proficiency test. Below is a list of tests we accept and minimum score requirements:

Duolingo English Test = 125

IELTS = 7.5

PTE Academic = 73

TOEFL (iBT) = 105

Please note: An English-proficiency test is also required for students from Puerto Rico and for students from non-English territories in Canada, unless the language of instruction was English only.

There is no minimum undergraduate GPA. Our application review process is holistic and all parts of the application receive consideration. We encourage you to tell us about yourself and your interest in our program in your statement of purpose and optional admissions interview.

Journalism experience or specific coursework is not required for admission. We have a range of students who are career changers, recent graduates and working journalists. 

All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from a CUNY college (or receive this degree prior to enrolling in the fall). We look for applicants who have a broad liberal arts background, and have demonstrated a commitment to the field, a passion for current events and a strong sense of curiosity.

Admission decision letters for the following in-person programs will be emailed starting mid-March for students who complete their application by the priority deadline (January 9, 2026):

• M.A. in Journalism
• M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• M.A. in Engagement Journalism

Yes. Our programs (M.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Engagement Journalism) are STEM-designated.

Yes, we are currently waiving the $75 application fee for all 2026 applicants. 

With the exception of the Online M.A. in Journalism Bilingual (Spanish/English) program, applicants can apply to more than one program using the same application fee waiver/application fee. Follow the instructions on the How to Apply page to learn more.

Yes. You will be required to use a different email address for your new application. Please select “yes” to the question that asks “are you a re-applicant”.

Yes. The CUNY/Nelnet payment plan is an easy, convenient and low-cost option. Enrolling in the payment plan has many benefits:

• Instead of paying each semester’s bill all at once, the Nelnet payment plan allows you to stretch payments over a period of months.
• You can establish your payment plan based upon your anticipated tuition and fee costs and your anticipated financial aid (grants, scholarships, federal and state aid, etc.).
• The earlier you enroll, the lower your monthly payments will be, since the total amount financed will be divided over more scheduled payments.
• Your class seat is saved.
• Nelnet accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Amex. You may also pay with your checking account or ACH online.
• This is an interest-free payment plan, not a loan.

You may refer to the Graduate Center’s Tuition and Fees page to learn more about the Nelnet Tuition Payment Plan.

Determination for New York State Residency is based on the information provided on your application. In general, to qualify for the resident tuition rate at a senior college based on residence in the State of New York, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or in a qualifying immigration status; AND
• Have continuously maintained his/her principal place of abode in the State of New York for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes; AND
• Have a bona fide intention of living in New York permanently

You may learn more about the New York State residency requirements by referring to CUNY’s Tuition and Fee Manual.

Master’s students who file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be eligible for federal loans. Please note, international students are not eligible for federal aid.

You may learn more by clicking here.

Visit the tuition and fees page to learn more about the cost of the program.

Students can complete the following in-person programs in as few as three semesters (16 months), starting in the fall:

• M.A. in Journalism
• M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• M.A. in Engagement Journalism

Others may choose to extend their studies to four semesters or longer by taking fewer than nine credits per term.

Students must enroll in at least six credits per semester to maintain eligibility for federal student loans and J-School awarded scholarships. International students are required to maintain full-time enrollment (9 credits) to retain their visa status. All students must meet with their academic advisor each semester to ensure they are on track to complete the program.

The Online M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish/English) program is a two-semester program that starts in the spring semester.

Additional information can be found on the Academic Programs page.

Some students may decide they’d like to take a class as a non-matriculated student before applying to the J-School. You should contact to learn which classes may be open to students who are not enrolled in the master’s program.

The application must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which you are taking the class. You are not guaranteed a spot while you are going through the application process.

Please review the latest tuition costs and registration fees information.

We do not offer on-campus housing at the J-School. However, other CUNY colleges and organizations offer off-campus housing opportunities to our students, including: 

CUNY City College Towers

A number of rooms are reserved for our students at the CUNY City College Towers dormitory. For more information, please contact Chris Clarke via email at cclarke@capstonemail.com or (917) 507-0055.

CUNY Graduate Center

The CUNY Graduate Center offers housing to students. For additional information on available apartments, visit the Graduate Center’s Housing page for more information. You may also email the Graduate Center Housing Office with questions at or (212) 817-7605.

Educational Housing Services (EHS)

Educational Housing Services (EHS) manages several dormitory-style housing facilities in New York City. Full-time college students studying at a school in NYC, or a college student coming to NYC for an internship as part of their studies often choose to live in one of their residences. EHS has more than 25 years of experience offering safe, high-end dormitory-style housing in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. They offer housing on a semester-based system only.

International House

The International House offers both private and shared housing facilities. Residents enjoy many spaces to study, socialize, eat, dance, learn about fellow Residents, and get involved in community life.  The most rewarding experiences at International House occur in these shared spaces. Graduate students and young professionals from institutions across New York City reside in our affordable housing facilities.

Newmark J-School Housing Facebook Group

This Facebook group is open to the Newmark J-School community, including future, current and former CUNY students. Students post here if they are searching for an apartment, need to sublet or rent out their apartment. Students will be given access to this page after being admitted to the J-School.

You may join our email list to receive information regarding our programs, contact to schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admissions representative and/or refer to our Events and Information Sessions page to attend an upcoming information session.

The mission of the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism’s Department of Public Safety is to provide a safe and secure environment for our campus community with an emphasis on civility and inclusion. The Department of Public Safety is staffed by trained campus peace officers and campus security assistants who are available to assist the campus community at all times during operational hours. Both campus peace officers and campus security assistants are fully qualified to respond to emergencies. Please visit Public Safety Department for information on campus crime statistics and additional resources.