Admissions
Bank Street’s application process follows a holistic approach.
Admissions Process
Admissions Criteria
Admissions criteria for applicants of all graduate degree programs.
Bank Street Graduate School of Education seeks applicants who demonstrate the following:
- A GPA of 3.0 (B average) or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
- An aptitude for completing graduate-level coursework and academic projects of substantial scope and depth, as well as a capacity for making positive contributions in their professional lives.
- Sensitivity to others, flexibility, self-awareness, and a willingness and capacity to engage in self-reflection.
- Positive interpersonal skills in relationships with both children and adults.
- A healthy motivation and commitment to learning and to children.
Admissions criteria for programs leading to certification.
- Applicants must meet breadth and depth course requirements in the liberal arts and sciences, including depth of at least ten courses (or 30 credits) in a liberal arts major or area of concentration. Students missing a prerequisite course will need to fulfill the requirements in the subject(s) required, as outlined in the correspondence after acceptance, within their first year at Bank Street. If you’re sending in certain College Board test scores (like the SAT, AP, or CLEP), our code is 8028. For additional requirements, please see the admissions guide chart on our main site.
- Some programs in special education, literacy, and curriculum & instruction require that applicants have, or be working toward, New York State Initial Certification. Those who hold certification from a state having reciprocity with New York need to apply for New York State Professional Certification while applying to Bank Street. The certification must be valid for the entire duration of one’s program at Bank Street.
- The new Title IV federal regulation, 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), which is in effect starting July 2024, requires all online educational programs leading to licensure, including all teacher and leader certification programs, only enroll students who plan to work in the state where their program leads to certification or in a state where there is reciprocity. Compliance with these regulations is essential for all educational institutions to continue to receive Federal financial assistance and to operate educational programs.
Admissions criteria for Progressive Leadership, Early Childhood Leadership, and School District Leadership programs.
Applicant must demonstrate three years of paid, full-time work experience as a classroom teacher (must be as a head teacher or lead teacher, not as an assistant or associate teacher) or as a pupil personnel professional in an appropriate school site (early childhood through adolescent settings). They will also need to be employed in an appropriate role and setting throughout the duration of the program. Pupil personnel positions are (as defined by New York State):
- School Attendance Teacher
- School Counselor
- School Dental Hygiene Teacher
- School Nurse-Teacher
- School Psychologist
- School Social Worker
Application Requirements
Bank Street’s application process follows a holistic approach. We consider a number of factors that give us insight into your academic work, engagement with children and adults, and leadership potential. Applicants please consult the program chart on our main site for additional requirements and prerequisites.
Program ChartThe following is a list of items that are needed for an application to be considered complete:
Access the online application on our main site and create an account. Once logged in, the online portal will walk you through the necessary steps to complete the application and pay the non-refundable $65 application fee.
Letters of recommendation are generally written by those who can attest to your academic work and engagement in the field. When you submit contact information for your references in the online application portal, an email will be sent to them detailing how to upload their letters.
In the application, you will be asked to reflect upon your personal experiences in life and connect them to your pursuit of an online graduate degree here at Bank Street. This autobiography will be submitted electronically as part of the online application process and should be 750 words minimum.
A current résumé that reflects accurate work history, education, and other relevant experiences must be submitted electronically as part of the online application.
Official transcripts showing a degree conferral from the colleges or universities you have attended must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions directly from the degree-granting institution. We can support you in obtaining transcripts from your institution. Contact us for a Proxy Form.
Some programs require additional application materials. Please refer to the admissions guide chart on our main site to learn more about additional materials you may need to apply. Many of these materials must be in our possession before we can evaluate your application.
After Application Submission
Here is what to expect after you apply to a Bank Street online degree program.
Interviews
If your application is considered competitive, a faculty member from the appropriate program will contact you to schedule an admissions interview. Applicants who live at a distance from the College will conduct their interview by phone or online video chat.
Admissions Decisions
Admissions decisions are made throughout the year. Generally, applicants are notified about the admissions decision within four to eight weeks after their application is complete.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition for Bank Street is $1,868 per credit.
Each year, Bank Street’s Office of Financial Assistance administers over $8.5 million in financial aid to students. Our scholarship program makes the cost of attending Bank Street College of Education competitive with most other private schools.
Registered students are assessed for tuition and fees based on a variety of factors, including program and credit hours enrolled. The minimum number of credits required in order to be eligible for financial aid is 5 credits per semester.
For additional information visit our main site:
Bank Street Tuition & Financial AidKey Dates
We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. We encourage students to submit their application by our early submission dates in order to guarantee the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.
| Term: | Early Submission Dates: | Classes Begin: | Classes End: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | November 1, 2024 | January 21, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
| Summer Long 2025 | February 1, 2025 | May 12, 2025 | July 24, 2025 |
| Summer I 2025 | February 1, 2025 | May 12, 2025 | June 16, 2025 |
| Summer II 2025 | February 1, 2025 | June 30, 2025 | July 31, 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Application and Registration
Yes, there is a $65 application fee.
Yes, there are other fees. Please visit the Bank Street main website for complete information.
The per-credit cost for the 2024-2025 academic year is $1,868, starting with the Fall 2024 Term. There are scholarships and financial aid available to support your participation in the program. Please contact your Application Specialist at 646-837-7611 to find out more about tuition and financial aid at Bank Street.
Yes, each year, Bank Street’s Office of Financial Aid administers over $8.5 million in financial aid to students. Our scholarship program makes the cost of attending Bank Street College of Education competitive with most other private schools.
All students interested in receiving financial aid must complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students must also complete the admissions application and indicate that they are interested in applying for financial aid, and complete the scholarship application section in this form. Please remember that in order to complete the FAFSA, you will need your federal tax returns. The FAFSA becomes available annually on October 1st and can be accessed at the Federal Student Aid website. Bank Street’s Title IV Code is G02669 (G ZERO 2669).
Yes, if you have been admitted, you will reply to confirm your enrollment. A $250 enrollment fee will be due with this form to secure your spot in the incoming class.
Yes, students are required to have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission.
In accordance with a new bill passed in November 2021, Bank Street Graduate School of Education has eliminated the requirement of entrance exams (GRE/MAT) effective immediately.
Our programs are varied enough to meet the needs of all qualified college graduates with or without prior experience in teaching, administration, or other human service fields. However, we do feel it is important for you to have some experience working with children so that you feel confident that this career choice is grounded in a realistic understanding of yourself and of children.
Bank Street Graduate School is fully accredited. As a student, you can be assured that we are dedicated to an ongoing review of our programs. Your educational experience is important to you, just as it is important to us.
Course Information
There are three start dates offered per year. The Summer semester begins in May, Fall semester begins in September, and Spring begins in January. Contact a Bank Street Graduate School Online Application Specialist at 646-837-7611 to find the next start date that works with your schedule.
The length of the program will depend upon the specific course of study that you select and how many credit hours per semester you complete.
Supervised fieldwork at Bank Street is usually a year-long, intensive learning experience and is central to nearly all our programs. Some programs require one semester of supervised fieldwork; some programs have unique schedules spreading supervised fieldwork over three or four terms. During supervised fieldwork/advisement, you work with a faculty advisor who is experienced in your area of study. In addition, you will also work in a conference group with about six other students in your program, and your advisor.
The online courses are a mix of self-paced material and assignments, team assignments, and faculty-led discussions. We take the best of both fully online education and on-campus education: you will receive the same learner-focused content and active engagement that Bank Street is known for, but most of the work you do throughout a typical week will be completed according to your own schedule.
Each online course is held for the full academic semester, which is between 11 and 16 weeks in length (Summer semester is shorter). The weekly schedules will vary by course and credit hour.
Usually, as a student and with your program director’s approval, you will be able to use your own classroom for your supervised fieldwork setting as long as it is appropriate for the program to which you have applied. You will need to have support from your principal or school director or from your Bank Street advisor as you do fieldwork at the school. Your advisor will need to have access to your classroom.
Certification
Yes, Bank Street’s teacher and supervisor preparation programs are approved in New York State. For more information about Bank Street’s New York State registered programs, please visit our NYSED.gov listing page.
If you want to get certified in another state after you complete your Bank Street program, you should start researching early. Contact the relevant State Department of Education for details on requirements and application procedures. Certification regulations vary by state, so it is best to obtain the information well in advance of your intended program completion date. For more information, please visit the Bank Street main website outside of New York page.
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