CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

What CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies does

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) is a public constituent college within the City University of New York system, formally established in its current form in 2019 with academic roots extending back approximately four decades through the Joseph S. Murphy Institute. The institution delivers undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and experiential learning programs focused on labor rights, urban studies, public service, and social justice, serving working adults, union members, traditional-age students, and targeted NYC industry cohorts (notably healthcare workers and school/daycare workers). It is headquartered at 25 West 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan and operates with approximately 85 staff.

The academic portfolio comprises two bachelor's degrees (BA in Labor Studies; BA in Urban and Community Studies), two master's degrees (MA in Labor Studies; MA in Urban Studies), and approximately ten undergraduate and graduate certificates spanning labor relations, healthcare leadership and advocacy, public administration, and workplace democracy. Experiential offerings include the Union Semester and Community Semester internship programs and the AmeriCorps SLU Fellowship. Operational technology consists of standard CUNY enterprise systems — Brightspace LMS (alongside legacy Blackboard), CUNYfirst ERP, DegreeWorks advising, the Navigate student-success platform, Handshake for career services, CUNY Virtual Desktop/Apporto for remote access, and Office 365 — with no proprietary technology stack, no public API, and no AI capabilities disclosed.

SLU's revenue model combines recurring state and CUNY-system appropriations, tuition and fees (with reduced rates for NY State residents), and donations/grants via the SLU Foundation and workforce-development research grants. Distribution is multi-channel: the centralized CUNY admissions system, the LEAP to Teacher program embedded across 8 CUNY campuses, employer and union tuition-benefit programs, and community/union internship partnerships. Operational signals include an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, 86% of undergraduates with full tuition covered by grants/waivers, and 94% graduating debt-free.

Name

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

Legal name

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

Website

https://slu.cuny.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Public CUNY constituent college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees plus certificates in labor studies, urban studies, and public service to working adults, union members, traditional students, and NYC industry cohorts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Labor studies education
• Urban studies programs
• Public higher education
• Worker education services
• Professional certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: As a public CUNY institution, SLU generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificate programs, and non-degree offerings.
2. Government Funding: Public university funding from City University of New York system and New York State appropriations.
3. Donations and Grants: The SLU Foundation accepts donations to support student scholarships and programs. Grant funding supports workforce development research projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies is a public higher education institution within the City University of New York system that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificates, and experiential learning programs centered on labor rights, public service, and social justice. Core offerings include the BA in Labor Studies, BA in Urban and Community Studies, MA in Labor Studies, MA in Urban Studies, multiple certificates in labor relations, healthcare leadership, public administration, and workplace democracy, alongside hands-on programs such as Union Semester, Community Semester, and the AmeriCorps SLU Fellowship.

Product overview

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies is a public higher education institution within the City University of New York system offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificates, and experiential learning programs centered on labor rights, public service, and social justice. The institution operates a portfolio of academic offerings including two undergraduate degrees (BA in Labor Studies and BA in Urban and Community Studies), two graduate degrees (MA in Labor Studies and MA in Urban Studies), multiple undergraduate and graduate certificates spanning labor relations, healthcare leadership, public administration, and workplace democracy, and experiential programs including Union Semester, Community Semester, and AmeriCorps Fellowship. Supporting infrastructure includes the Academic Advising Center, Career & Professional Development Office, The Learning Hub, and the Murphy Institute for worker education. The institution does not offer a public API or AI-powered features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies Undergraduate degree program designed for students interested in labor, unions, and the workplace, covering history, sociology, law, and political science with a focus on labor relations and advocacy for workers' rights and social justice.
• Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Community Studies Undergraduate degree program exploring urban, social, economic, and political issues as they relate to diverse working-class communities, with concentrations in Urban Studies, Community Studies, or Labor Studies.
• Master of Arts in Labor Studies Graduate degree program serving the educational needs of labor leaders, union staff, and activists, developing skills in history, organizing, leadership development, transnational labor issues, and public policy.
• Master of Arts in Urban Studies Graduate degree program for scholarly and professional interests in urban political, economic, and social dynamics, with tracks in Public Policy and Administration, Health Care Policy and Administration, or Urban Workforce.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Labor Studies Undergraduate certificate providing understanding of work, workers, and labor organizations with skills in labor history, politics, economics, and organizing.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Labor Relations Undergraduate certificate providing practical knowledge for union members and officers to navigate workplaces and practice in labor and industrial relations, with skills in collective bargaining, labor law, and contract negotiation.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and Advocacy Undergraduate certificate providing academic foundation and professional development for healthcare workers in NYC's health care industry, with skills in healthcare policy, administration, and advocacy.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy Undergraduate certificate providing understanding of government agencies, social services, and the policy-making process, with skills in organizational theory and analytical research.
• Advanced Certificate in Labor Studies Graduate certificate for seasoned labor leaders and union staff to advance careers and enhance contributions to the labor movement, with skills in organizing, leadership development, and public policy.
• Advanced Certificate in Labor Relations Graduate certificate developing practical skills for collective bargaining, conflict resolution, and contract administration, with theoretical understanding of labor law and public policy.
• Advanced Certificate in Leading Change in Healthcare Systems Graduate certificate providing professional development for healthcare administrators, with advanced analytic, research, writing, and presentation skills for careers in healthcare management and policy.
• Advanced Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy Graduate certificate providing master's-level education in legislation, government agencies, and social services, with advanced analytical, research, and writing skills.
• Advanced Certificate in Workplace Democracy and Community Ownership Fully online graduate certificate preparing students to advance workplace democracy through exploration of worker cooperatives, community land trusts, and solidarity economy models; offers reduced tuition for non-NY residents.
• New York Union Semester Semester-long academic internship combining rigorous study with hands-on experience within the labor movement, pairing students with unions and worker-rights organizations.
• Community Semester Full-time intensive academic and service-learning program providing hands-on experience with community-based organizations fighting for environmental justice, housing rights, immigrant rights, and community empowerment.
• AmeriCorps SLU Fellowship 11-month service program allowing students to serve 1,700 hours in nonprofit organizations while receiving a stipend and educational award, with concurrent enrollment in the Community Leadership certificate program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of undergraduate students earn their degrees debt-free
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC Labor UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLU collaborates with NYC labor unions through the Joseph S. Murphy Institute to serve the educational, policy, and research needs of unions, allied organizations, and their members. The Institute conducts applied research, offers leadership development programs, hosts forums and conferences, and publishes articles and books.
• Municipal AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUNY SLU has developed programs in collaboration with municipal agencies, providing educational opportunities for city workers and creating pathways for public service careers.
• Community-Based OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLU partners with community-based organizations for the Community Semester internship program, where students contribute to organizations fighting for environmental justice, housing rights, immigrant rights, tenants' rights, and economic justice.
• Worker-Rights OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLU's Union Semester program pairs students with worker-rights organizations to gain practical skills and learn strategies for fighting for workers' rights.
• 8 CUNY Campuses (LEAP to Teacher)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAP to Teacher is a collaborative program between SLU and 8 CUNY campuses: Bronx Community College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Brooklyn College, City Tech, College of Staten Island, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, and Queens College. These campuses provide free specialized support services for school and daycare workers pursuing higher education.
• The Graduate Center (CUNY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLU uses the Mina Rees Library at the Graduate Center and various CUNY libraries for student access. Graduate Center provides 24-hour public safety emergency contact.
• LIST NY (AmeriCorps)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps SLU Fellowship is administered by LIST NY, an 11-month program allowing students to serve 1700 hours in nonprofit organizations while receiving a stipend and educational award.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UMass Boston Labor Studies Program: UMass Boston offers a well-known labor studies concentration within its College of Liberal Arts, with explicit focus on working-class students and union partnerships — closely aligned with CUNY SLU's academic and student mission.
• Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations: Rutgers SMLR is a direct peer offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in labor studies, employment relations, and human resource management, serving a similar working-adult and union-affiliated student base as CUNY SLU.
• CUNY Graduate Center: CUNY Graduate Center is the system's doctoral and master's-granting institution, housing urban studies and labor-related research programs; SLU shares libraries and infrastructure with the Graduate Center, making it a close peer for graduate urban-studies offerings.
• CUNY School of Professional Studies: CUNY SPS is the predecessor institution housing the Joseph S. Murphy Institute; it continues to serve working-adult learners with online degree and certificate programs that directly overlap SLU's adult-learner target market.
• Berkeley Labor Center: UC Berkeley's Labor Center conducts applied labor research and workforce development programs that parallel SLU's Murphy Institute research and policy-publishing activities, making it a peer on the research-and-policy dimension of SLU's portfolio.
• NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service: NYU Wagner offers graduate programs in public policy and urban administration with a public-service and equity focus that directly overlaps SLU's Master of Arts in Urban Studies, particularly the Public Policy & Administration track.
• Cornell University ILR School: Cornell's ILR (Industrial and Labor Relations) School is a direct peer — the most prominent U.S. institution dedicated to labor studies, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with strong union and policy connections comparable to CUNY SLU's mission and programming.

Broad incumbents

• Hunter College (CUNY): Hunter College is another major CUNY senior college in Manhattan offering urban studies, public policy, and social science programs that overlap with SLU's urban-studies portfolio at a much larger scale.
• CUNY City College of New York: City College is a senior CUNY college serving a similarly diverse, urban New York student body with broader academic programming; it represents the broader CUNY peer set and competes for the same in-state prospective students.

Emerging players

• UCLA Labor Center: UCLA's Labor Center focuses on worker education, policy research, and labor-studies programming for working adults and union members, paralleling SLU's applied research and worker-education portfolio on the West Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cunyslu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies