Most students at Fordham University only stay on campus for the fall, winter and spring. Still, through internships, sports, classes or other pursuits, many students stay within New York City during the summer because it could benefit them socially and professionally.
New York City changes over the summer in a manner that all students must experience at least once. NYC Tourism in their “Summer Guide” claims, “There’s something special about NYC in summertime. Move between alfresco meals on sidewalks in all five boroughs, or catch one of the many outdoor concerts or street festivals.” Coney Island’s boardwalk and beach, outdoor movies at Central Park and street fairs throughout all five boroughs turn the city into a city-wide playground. Students who aren’t in New York City during summer break miss a period of New York that only lasts a few months.
It is also fairly easy for Fordham University students to stay on campus over the summer. Fordham offers housing at both its Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses for students who take summer courses or Fordham programming. Fordham’s website’s Summer Session Housing page states that students can choose to stay at either campus, regardless of where they have their classes, with each campus having its benefits.
Housing at Lincoln Center provides “two- to three-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities and air-conditioning” in McMahon Hall, “adjacent to the Leon Lowenstein Building (location of Lincoln Center campus courses).” Living on campus at Lincoln Center puts students “in the heart of Manhattan,” within walking distance of Central Park, Columbus Circle and scores of institutions of a cultural nature. For students who want to be involved in all of Manhattan, the location is hard to beat.
Rose Hill, however, offers a more traditional college environment. Summer students stay in “air-conditioned rooms with a two-person occupancy,” surrounded by “green expanses of lawn and shaded, tree-lined sidewalks.” The Bronx campus gives students access to athletic facilities, including an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, as well as to nearby popular destinations, including the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. Both campuses are mass transit-accessible, making it easy for students to travel around the city when class is over.
Summer housing is reasonably priced relative to the overall rental market in New York City. Housing for Summer 2025 is $1,500 for a five-week session at Lincoln Center, and around $1,326 for a five-week session at Rose Hill. Fordham also mentions that “opportunities are available for free summer housing on-campus through being a Summer RA or a Desk Assistant,” so students may be able to save a great deal of money if they can take on a little extra work as a resident assistant (RA).
Interns who are waiting in line should especially consider staying. Fordham makes a point specifically stating that “If you have (or are planning to have) an internship in New York City and would like summer housing at Fordham University, we recommend that you explore our NYC summer internship program.” New York City is one of the great places in the world to gain real-world work experience. Staying for the summer allows students to be around professional environments, network with professional leaders and open doors to full-time employment. In competitive fields of finance, journalism, marketing and the arts, a summer internship in New York City can put a résumé ahead of the pack. After all, New York City is one of the most famous cities in the world.
Off-campus students who stay for the entire academic year are most likely to sign a 12-month lease. Sticking around the city over the summer enables them to get the maximum amount they’re already paying, without losing money on subletting a residence or having a unit sitting empty.
Naturally, New York summers are not always fun. New York is expensive, even with aid arranged through Fordham. Food, transportation and entertainment cost money. And there is always the occasional New York humidity and summer heat that might take some getting used to. Still, for most students, the benefits, instant and long-term, outweigh the disadvantages.
With all of these advantages, Fordham University must market summer housing and internship opportunities more effectively, sooner and more broadly. Some students aren’t aware that remaining is even an option, or believe it would be prohibitive without realizing that options like working as a Desk Assistant or RA can assist in defraying the cost.
A summer spent in New York City during college is a unique experience that pays professional rewards and lifetime memories. From watching a free outdoor movie in Central Park, to riding the subway to a coveted internship in Manhattan’s financial district, to merely enjoying the city over the summer, all Fordham students owe it to themselves to at least stay for one summer during their college career.
Tahiyat Raisa, FCRH’28, is an English Major on the pre-law track from Queens, New York.
