By Will Flores. The Trump administration intends to shut down the Department of Education (DOE), threatening students with carrying a financial burden. The Department of Education oversees around $1.6 trillion in student loan debt and $120.8 billion in grants, work-study, and loan funds for 9.9 million students and 17.6 million FAFSA forms. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) indicate “85% of full-time, first-year undergraduate students were awarded some type of financial aid in 2022-2023.”
At CUNY, the new fiscal year 2025 appropriation total is $637 million less than the total in fiscal year 2024. This amount is budgeted to account for eleven senior colleges, seven community colleges, and seven honors/professional CUNY schools, while also employing thousands of academic, administrative, and facility personnel. CUNY, as many may know, used to be tuition-free though the founding of The Free Academy in the mid-19th century, a plan to provide education to New Yorkers of all backgrounds. This was later overturned in June 1976, when the Board of Higher Education broke down and imposed tuition on CUNY students after New York surrendered financial independence.
Five campuses are projected to end the current year with losses: York -16M, CSI -7.6M, KBCC -4.2M, Queens -2.9M, and MEC -0.4M, the Finance and Administration Committee has reported.
“It is not good,” stated John Verzani, the Chair of the University Faculty Senate and a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of Staten Island, during a review of the financial position of the different campuses.
“This situation is something that has taken a toll on me throughout my four years of college, and it has not been an easy ride,” says Jaime Capon, a student at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology, where in-state undergraduate full-time students pay $3,465 per semester. “I am constantly exhausted and overwhelmed with the number of responsibilities I have from work and school.”
Eduardo Frias, a full-time student at Queensborough Community College, also uses the word “overwhelming” to describe their college journey. “I do get support from my parents, they are the ones who pay the majority of my tuition per semester. And I am grateful for it, I appreciate all they have done, but it also puts a lingering stress on me that not only do I have to do this, but do great, so that I am not a disappointing them.”
A study led by Dr. Kristy Archuleta alongside colleagues, has found that students with loans and credit card debt were associated with mental health problems and overall stress. “Financial stress among college students can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, and a decline in academic performance. This can in turn impact a person’s financial well-being,” Archuleta writes.
Despite the difficult situation many CUNY students are facing financially, a memo from the CUNY federal review on January 28, 2025, CUNY Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Rosemarie Wesson, and CUNY Research Foundation President, Hector R. Cordero-Guzman, has attempted to reassure them.
“Dear CUNY,” it reads. “Since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, several Executive Orders have been issued, signaling potential shifts in federal priorities. These changes may affect your proposal submissions, active projects, and funding from federal agencies and sponsors. We know that this news is unsettling, and we all are committed to ensuring that these policy changes have as minimal impact as possible… so like you we are working to make the best decisions with unfortunately incomplete data.”
The Queensborough Office of Financial Services provides their services to students via in-person, e-mail, telephone, and online zoom appointment. Office of Financial Service hosts FAFSA Fest a step-by-step filing process of the FAFSA form by dedicated personnel, every Wednesday from February 26 through June 4th 1:00pm – 4:00pm in the Library Building, Room 117. Queensborough also offers grants, scholarships, work study, tuition payment plans, and information about loans to cover tuition, books and supplies. Financial services personnel indicate on average 30-40 students will attend the event.
