Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (Manhattan)
Borough of Manhattan Community College of the City University of New York
Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (Manhattan)
199 Chambers Street
New York
, NY
10007
Note: This program is able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP).
AHRC New York City partnered with The City University of New York and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to develop a fully inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York City. The Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program prepares young adults with intellectual disabilities for adult life through higher education coursework, campus life, civic engagement, self-advocacy curriculum, and career development.
Program information submitted: Jan 27, 2026
| General |
| Public or private: | Public |
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| Type of school: | 2-year community college or junior college |
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| Is this program a federally funded TPSID program?: | No |
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| Number of students: | 12 |
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| Requirements |
| Program serves students who have left high school?: | Yes, all of our students have left high school |
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| High school diploma required?: | No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted |
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| Deadline to apply to this program: | 12/5/25 |
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| Admission link: | Program admission |
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| Criteria for admission: | |
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| Accepts out-of-state students?: | No |
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| Students in this program have these disabilities: | - Intellectual disability
- Autism
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| Planned program length: |
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| Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates |
| Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: | 100% |
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| Cost |
| Average student in-state tuition and fees for the current school year: | $2,400.00 |
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| Room and board cost: | $0.00 |
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| Program specific fees: | $125.00 |
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| Other costs: | OPWDD Medicaid waiver which funds the support (does not come out of family pocket) |
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| Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)?: | Yes |
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| Students pay for the program in the following ways: | - Private pay (student and family)
- Scholarships
- Federal Financial Aid
- Medicaid Waiver or Day Habilitation funds
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| Scholarships available: | When available--JFK Jr. Institute Stipend. |
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| Academic |
| Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
- Typical college courses for audit
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| More about course access: | Students have full access to the course catalogue. Students enroll in 2 courses each semester and are supported by a peer mentor (paid & trained through AHRC NYC) |
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| Are students in this program able to access support services through your IHE disability services office?: | Yes |
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| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
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| Information on special classes: | Students enroll in 2 inclusive courses each semester. In addition to inclusive courses, the program offers supplemental courses (only open to Melissa Riggio Students) in the area of independence & daily living skills |
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| Percentage of all courses taken by students that are inclusive: | 75-99% |
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| Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester?: | Yes |
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| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | CUNY Unlimited Credential in Academic and Career Studies |
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| Is the credential approved by the college/university?: | Yes, this credential has been through a formal approval process at the IHE |
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| Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students?: | If they were interested, GED, food handlers. Continuing ed classes offered at the campus |
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| Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services: |
- Career services
- Disability/accessibility services
- Academic tutoring services
- Health services
- Mental health/counseling services
- Access to a transcript via the registrar
- Academic advising services (not program staff)
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| Employment |
| Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 33% |
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| Other career development activities are: | - Internships
- Volunteer work
- Work Study
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| Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 0% |
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| Additional information about career development and work experience: | Students have access to work with a CUNY Unlimited Job Developer |
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| Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? | Yes |
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| Housing |
| Housing is provided to students?: | No |
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