The City University of New York on Tuesday announced a new policy to support graduates of city public schools who choose to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Under the CUNY Veterans’ Promise program, graduating seniors who enlist will now have the option to defer their college enrollment for up to two years, giving them time to complete military training and return ready to pursue their education.
Effective beginning with the fall 2026 admissions cycle, the Veterans’ Promise extends CUNY’s current one-year deferral policy to two years exclusively for graduates of public schools entering military service.
"With our CUNY Veterans’ Promise program, we are making sure that graduates of New York City Public Schools can complete their military service basic training with the assurance that they’ll have a place at CUNY once they’re done,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.
Developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services, the policy reaffirms CUNY’s mission to provide access and stability for students from all walks of life.
The university system already guarantees admission for veterans who hold a high school diploma or equivalency degree, waives application fees and exempts them from commitment deposits. Student-veterans and their families also benefit from tailored academic and financial support through the CUNY Office of Veterans Affairs.
The announcement follows a generous $2.86 million unrestricted gift to New York City College of Technology from the estate of alumnus and veteran David Yuen Kwong Lu. A 1999 graduate and Vietnam War Marine Corps veteran, Lu credited City Tech for offering a welcoming environment to immigrants and first-generation students. His legacy gift underscores the lifelong impact of CUNY’s veteran community.
