New York City doesn't do "quiet." Neither does the education market here. If you’ve spent any time looking into tech-focused degrees in the city, you’ve definitely seen the name DeVry College of New York. It's everywhere—bus ads, LinkedIn sidebars, and late-night TV spots. But honestly, most people are kinda confused about what it actually is in 2026. Is it a standalone school? Is it just DeVry University with a different hat on?
Basically, it's both. In the state of New York, DeVry University operates under the name DeVry College of New York. It’s a legal distinction that matters to regulators but doesn't change much for the student sitting in a classroom—virtual or physical—trying to learn Python.
The conversation around this school is usually polarized. You’ve got the critics who bring up the "for-profit" tag like it’s a scarlet letter, and then you’ve got the career-switchers who swear by the eight-week sessions. Somewhere in the middle lies the reality of a school that has survived nearly a century by moving faster than traditional ivory towers.
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Why DeVry College of New York Still Matters
Education is changing. Fast. Traditional four-year schools are struggling to keep up with things like Agentic AI and cloud security, but DeVry has built its whole identity on being "tech-forward." In fact, for 2026, Niche ranked DeVry University #2 for Best Colleges for Information Technology in America. That’s not a small feat when you’re competing against massive state schools and specialized tech institutes.
The Midtown Manhattan campus, tucked away at 180 Madison Avenue, isn't your typical leafy quad. There are no frisbees flying on a lawn. It's an office building. You’re a block from the Empire State Building. It’s corporate, it’s intentional, and it’s designed for people who are already working or want to be in that environment immediately.
The Hybrid Reality
Most students aren't there five days a week. The model has shifted heavily toward a hybrid setup. You might do most of your heavy lifting online but show up at the Manhattan location for specific labs or networking events. This flexibility is the biggest selling point. If you're a parent or working a 9-to-5 in Queens, the idea of a "standard" college schedule is basically a joke. DeVry’s 8-week sessions let you focus on one or two subjects, crush them, and move on.
The "For-Profit" Elephant in the Room
Let's be real for a second. The phrase "for-profit" makes people nervous. It should. The industry had a rough decade with schools closing overnight and leaving students stranded. But DeVry survived that era. They’re accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which is the same body that accredits huge public universities in the Midwest.
Being for-profit means they pay taxes. It also means they operate like a business. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the customer service is usually better than a bloated state agency. On the other, the tuition can be higher if you aren't careful with your financial aid. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the undergraduate tuition is roughly $14,392, but once you add in fees and the cost of living in NYC, that "sticker price" can jump significantly.
What the Numbers Actually Say
If you're looking for a 100% graduation rate, keep walking. No school has that, and DeVry College of New York has a graduation rate that often hovers around 25-26%. That sounds low, right? It is. But you have to look at who is attending.
Most DeVry students are non-traditional. We’re talking about:
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- Military veterans transitioning to civilian tech roles.
- Single parents looking for a path out of retail.
- Adults who tried "normal" college ten years ago and it didn't click.
These are "high-risk" students in the eyes of statisticians. When a 35-year-old father of three drops out because his job hours changed, that hurts the school's "grad rate" stat, but it doesn't necessarily mean the curriculum failed. However, it does mean you need to have a plan. Don't go in blind.
Earnings and ROI
The median salary for alumni is around $49,188. In Manhattan, that’s a tight budget. In the suburbs or upstate, it’s a solid start. The real value seems to be in the specialized tracks. Their Cyber Security programs are designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA. That’s a massive endorsement. If you’re in that specific lane, your earning potential is way higher than the average.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Curriculum
A common myth is that these degrees are "easy." They aren't. They’re fast.
Cramming a semester's worth of networking architecture into eight weeks is a grind. If you slack off for four days, you’ve missed a quarter of the course content.
The school has leaned hard into AI for 2026. They aren't just teaching about AI; they’re using it in the classroom. They recently made the GSV 150 list, which recognizes the most transformational growth companies in digital learning. They’re trying to prove that they aren't just a "diploma mill" but a legitimate tech pipeline.
Making the Decision: Actionable Steps
If you’re staring at an enrollment form, don't just sign it because the recruiter was nice. Do this instead:
1. Check the Programmatic Accreditation Institutional accreditation (HLC) is the baseline. But if you're doing business, check for ACBSP. If you're in tech, look for ABET. DeVry has these for many of their core programs. If the specific degree you want doesn't have programmatic accreditation, ask why.
2. Run the "Net Price" Calculator The sticker price of $17,000+ per year is rarely what people pay. Between the DeVry University Lifelong Learner Scholarship and federal grants, that number should come down. If it doesn't, the ROI might not be there for you.
3. Visit the Manhattan Campus Seriously. Go to 180 Madison Ave. See the labs. Talk to a student in the hallway who isn't a "student ambassador." Ask them if the professors actually answer emails at 11 PM.
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4. Audit Your Own Schedule Can you handle 15-20 hours of work per week on top of your job? The 8-week format is brutal if you have a life crisis mid-session.
DeVry College of New York occupies a weird, necessary space in the city's ecosystem. It’s a career-first institution that trades the prestige of a name like NYU for the utility of a schedule that works for a busy adult. It’s not for everyone, but for the person who needs to get a tech credential without quitting their job, it’s one of the few games in town that actually understands the hustle.