Campaign Highlights the Hallmark Features of a CUNY Education Including Career-Connected Learning, Support for Adult Learners, Affordability, Flexibility

Ads Will Appear on Subways, Buses, Railroads, Ferries and Across Digital Media

The City University of New York has launched the fourth installment of its award-winning “A Degree for Every Dream” marketing campaign, which highlights the unmatched value of a CUNY education and showcases the University’s students, campuses and many unique qualities.

Key themes explored in the new advertisements, which began running on Oct. 5, include the quality, variety and flexibility of CUNY’s academic programs and its affordability, vibrant campus communities, support for adult learners, graduate studies and comprehensive preparation for career success.

“CUNY understands the transformative impact of education and is proud to serve New Yorkers at every stage of their educational and professional journeys,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “The new installment of ‘A Degree for Every Dream’ should instill deep pride in CUNY students and recent grads and show prospective students and their families what is possible with a CUNY degree.” 

“We are proud to have another opportunity to spotlight the great value that CUNY provides to its students,” said CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Maite Junco. “We hope that New Yorkers can see themselves in the ads and feel inspired to take advantage of everything CUNY has to offer.”

The ads feature more than 75 students and alumni and for the first time include CUNY faculty members. Many photos were taken on or near 13 of the University’s 26 campuses, including the Astrophysical Observatory at the College of Staten Island, onboard a 1 train near the 137th Street–City College subway station and the Peggy Dance Studio at Hunter College. New York City neighborhoods also provided a backdrop along with City Hall and other recognizable locations. 

Each ad encourages viewers to apply to the University and directs them to a dedicated webpage on the CUNY website where prospective students can learn more about CUNY’s 2,800+ degree programs, co-curricular offerings and available student supports.

“A Degree for Every Dream” will be visible on subway cars, commuter trains and stations across the New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad systems, as well as on city buses, bus shelters, highway digital billboards, the Staten Island Ferry terminals and on NYC Ferry. Ads will also run digitally on Meta, Google, Snapchat and Reddit.

“A Degree for Every Dream” is the University’s annual enrollment campaign, launched during the traditional college application season. As visuals and messaging have been refreshed every year, it has helped with the University’s enrollment, which has seen a 9% increase since Fall 2022 — nearly 21,000 additional students. The campaign is also strategically timed with and visually connected to the “Welcome to CUNY” initiative done in partnership with New York City Public Schools.

CUNY-Grown Campaign

The team behind the concept and design of the campaign is led by CUNY Creative Director Alberto Maristany, a Hunter College alumnus and current Baruch graduate student, alongside a staff of designers, photographers, copywriters and stylists in CUNY’s Office of Communications and Marketing, who almost exclusively are products of the University.

Building on previous years, the creative assets continue to feature eye-catching typography, bold photography and relatable messaging that can resonate with anyone.

“This campaign is a love letter to the University that personally gave each member of our creative team so much,” Maristany said. “From the alumni who are the designers, writers and web developers overseeing the campaign’s development to the students who drive the production process, our entirely in-house team is proud to share how impactful CUNY’s story is with our entire city.”

Joining this year’s campaign cast are Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services Helen Arteaga, CUNY SPH ’23, and Slice Founder & CEO Ilir Sela, CSI ’03.

View the advertising placements on our Flickr account.