Monroe College

About Monroe College

• Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a higher-education institution in New York State that emphasises access, affordability and serving urban and international student populations.

• It operates multiple campuses: in the Bronx (NYC), New Rochelle (NY), and a campus in Saint Lucia (Caribbean), and also offers fully-online and hybrid degree programmes.

• The institution’s mission includes supporting first-generation students, immigrants and international students, aligning its programmes with industries in the New York and global economies.

Why Choose Monroe College (What makes it distinct)

• International diversity & global reach: Monroe highlights that its student-body comes from more than 80 countries, and they have international collaboration/“micro-campus” models so that students can access Monroe credentials globally.

• Multiple campus & location options: You have options of studying in a large metro area (Bronx/New York City region), a suburban campus (New Rochelle) and a Caribbean campus (St. Lucia) depending on your preference for setting.

• Flexible delivery models: The availability of “Monroe Online” with short sessions, hybrid/online formats means greater flexibility for international students who may need remote or blended options.

• Industry-aligned programmes: According to their self-study documents, Monroe regularly reviews and retires programmes with low employment demand and introduces new programmes aligned with industry needs (e.g., Diagnostic Medical Sonography) to improve graduate employment chances.

• Support for international students: Dedicated International Student Services (visa, regulation support, cultural acclimation) and an application process specifically for international applicants.

University Ranking / Reputation

• Monroe does not appear to be featured among the high-profile global university ranking lists (such as QS or THE) as a major research university.

• However, they highlight internal “fast facts” such as: 8,600+ students, 1,200 international students, 135+ countries represented, < 30 class size, 18:1 student/faculty ratio, 38 areas of study, 42 degrees offered.

• For international students especially, the key will be how the specific programme is accredited, recognised and how the degree is seen in your home country or by employers globally, rather than global ranking position alone.

Campus Locations

• Bronx Campus (New York City region): 2501 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468 (founded 1933)

• New Rochelle Campus (Westchester County, NY): 434 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 (founded 1983)

• St. Lucia Campus (Caribbean): Vide Boutielle Highway, Castries, LC04 101, Saint Lucia (established 2007)

• Online / Hybrid (Monroe Online): Fully online or blended programmes allowing study from home.

• For international students, choosing which campus matters: relocation, visa (F-1), on-campus vs online, cost of living etc differ significantly by location.

Types of Courses (Study Levels)

• Associate degrees: Many programmes begin with associate (2-year) degrees in allied health, business, IT, etc.

• Bachelor’s degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Business Administration, in many fields including online.

• Master’s degrees / Graduate programmes: The St. Lucia campus offers baccalaureate degrees as well as MBA & MPH.

• Certificates & online modules: Monroe Online and other continuing education certificate programmes are available.

• So if you’re an international student you have options from associate up to master’s level.

Mode of Learning (On-Campus / Online / Blended)

• On-campus: Traditional in-person classes at Bronx, New Rochelle and St. Lucia campuses. Example: the Bronx campus emphasises hands-on labs (simulation labs for nursing, allied health, criminal justice) in the New York area.

• Online: “Monroe Online” offers degrees fully online, with streaming video, live chat, interactive presentations and a dedicated advisor.

• Blended/Hybrid: They mention ability to design a hybrid schedule with online + on-campus classes.

• For international students: If studying on F-1 visa you’ll need to check how many in-person components the programme requires; fully online may not qualify for visa status in some cases.

Number of Programs Offered

• According to their “Fast Facts”: 38 areas of study, 42 degrees to choose from (associate, bachelor, master, certificates) for their main campuses.

• As an example: Undergraduate programmes online list business management, professional studies among others.

• So you have dozens of programmes — you should check the latest programme list on their website for the exact current count by campus/online.

Highlights

• Global student representation: More than 1,200 international students on campus representing 135+ countries.

• Small class size & personal attention: Under 30-student class size, student/faculty ratio ~18:1.

• Hands-on labs and simulation at urban campus: Example: Bronx campus offers simulation labs for nursing, full-body pregnancy simulator for diagnostic sonography, law-enforcement training simulator for criminal justice.

• Accelerated schedule & flexible semesters: Some programmes use 7.5-week sessions, multiple start dates per year, which may let you finish sooner.

• International Partnerships & Collaboration: Through “academic collaboration” model, students in India, Madagascar, Kazakhstan, China, Philippines may pursue Monroe credentials through partner institutions.

Important Considerations for International Students

• Visa / F-1 eligibility: If you apply from abroad, confirm the campus you apply to supports F-1 visas and which modalities (on-campus vs hybrid vs online) count toward full-time enrolment.

• Accreditation & recognition: While Monroe is regionally accredited via Middle States Commission on Higher Education (it reports being so) and holds certain program-specific accreditations, check how your home country or future employers view the degree.

• Cost of living & location: Studying at the New York / New York City region (Bronx or New Rochelle) means higher living costs; also campus in Saint Lucia may have different costs. Online programmes may reduce relocation cost.

• Scholarship competitiveness: Though scholarships for international students exist, they are competitive and involve maintaining GPA, full-time load. Don’t rely solely on them — plan budget accordingly.

• Programme and major choice: Because Monroe emphasises applied, career-oriented programmes and industry alignment, choose a major that aligns with your career goals and check employment/ internship support.

• Campus experience vs commuter campus: For example, the Bronx campus is commuter-oriented; New Rochelle offers more residential options and proximity to Manhattan. Choose what suits you.

• Online vs on-campus: Fully online options are convenient, but some international students on F-1 visas may need on-campus residency or to travel to the U.S. to attend. Confirm modality and visa implications.

• Start dates and pace: With three semesters per year and accelerated formats, you may be able to finish faster — helpful if you want to enter the workforce sooner.

Scholarship

Monroe University provides a number of scholarships and grants for international students (both undergraduate and graduate) in addition to standard U.S. federal/state aid (though note: many of the federal/state supports will not apply for F-1 visa international students). Key items:

• The University has an “International Scholarships (INTS)” for new undergraduate international F-1 matriculated students who have strong academic performance.

• They also have a Graduate International Student Scholarship (INTS) for new graduate international F-1 students with high prior GPA.

• There are International Student Grants (ISG) for new undergraduate international F-1 students (or U.S. citizens abroad) as part of the grant programme (which is different from a “scholarship”).

• Additional grant and scholarship programmes are available (for example: Legacy Grant, Caribbean Government Supplemental Award) that may apply to international students under certain agreements.

Eligibility requirements (what you must have / maintain)

Here are the typical eligibility conditions for the international-student scholarships and grants at Monroe — you should verify current year details, but this gives you a solid base.

For the Undergraduate International Scholarship (INTS)

• Must be a new-to-Monroe undergraduate international student on F-1 visa, matriculated in a program.

• Must have “an excellent record of academic performance at their high school or prior college” — example: GPA ~3.0 or higher. “No minimum grade-point average guarantees an award” but 3.0 is cited as a guideline.

• After enrolment: Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0, complete full-time status (minimum credits) each semester, maintain continuous enrollment.

• If attending part-time in the third consecutive semester the scholarship may be prorated; full-time status is required to keep full award.

For the Graduate International Student Scholarship (INTS)

• Must be a new graduate international F-1 matriculated student.

• Must have strong prior undergraduate GPA (example: 3.75 GPA cited) from previous institution.

• Must maintain continuous enrollment, and meet required credits each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA (3.7 cited) to keep the award.

For the International Student Grant (ISG)

• Awarded to new undergraduate international F-1 students OR U.S. citizens/permanent residents who reside abroad and commence studies at Monroe immediately upon entering the U.S.

• Must remain Pell eligible (for U.S. students) or meet conditions of grant for international students.

Important details & things to check

• While Monroe lists an example GPA of 3.0 for undergrad INTS scholarship, they state “No minimum grade-point average guarantees an award.” (so award is competitive)

• For online/remote international students, tuition and cost structure may differ significantly (see their catalog showing “Online Student (International)” costs) which affects how much scholarship may be needed.

• For some grants (e.g., Caribbean Government Supplemental Award) the eligibility depends on a government­sponsored arrangement from your home country. If you are from one of those countries, you should ask whether such an agreement exists for your country.

• Awards may be non-stackable: For scholarships and grants, Monroe states you cannot receive two scholarships and/or grants from the college except in special circumstances (with Vice President approval). If awarded multiple, you may receive only the larger.

• Some programs (culinary/hospitality, athletics) have specific scholarships (Skill USA, C-CAP, ProStart etc) for high school students transitioning to the program. While international students may qualify, you should check for your specific major.