Baruch College and Hostos Community College Partner to Launch Future Business Leaders
October 15, 2025
Hostos Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis and Baruch College President S. David Wu held a signing ceremony on October 15 to celebrate the launch of the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy, which provides a streamlined path for students to transition from a partner CUNY community college to Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Driven by a shared mission to expand student opportunities and advance career readiness, Baruch College and Hostos Community College announced a Business Academy partnership— an innovative initiative designed to make top-tier business education accessible and increase lifelong earning potential.
Baruch College President S. David Wu and Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis celebrated the agreement at a signing event on October 15 at the community college.
This partnership marks the sixth Business Academy agreement among the seven community colleges of The City University of New York (CUNY).
‘A Clear and Vital Pathway to Opportunity’
“We are proud to partner with Hostos Community College to bring the transformational impact of the Baruch Business Academy to the Bronx,” said Baruch College President S. David Wu, PhD. “This collaboration embodies our shared commitment to academic excellence and equitable access.
“Together, we are building a seamless pathway that empowers students—at every stage of their academic journey—to thrive in New York City’s dynamic workforce and to become the leaders who will shape the region’s economy for decades to come.”
President Daisy Cocco De Filippis emphasized the positive impact of the Business Academy recognizing how it will help launch students into productive careers and extend meaningful benefits to their broader communities.
“Hostos Community College is proud to forge this new partnership with Baruch College, as it will provide a clear and vital pathway to opportunity and educational growth for our students,” said Cocco De Filippis. “Serving the traditionally underserved population of the South Bronx, the nation’s poorest congressional district, Hostos works tirelessly to fulfill our mission of fostering socio-economic mobility through education.”
Cocco De Filippis added, “The new Hostos-Baruch Business Academy will provide our graduates with world-class instruction that will enable them to compete successfully in increasingly challenging business environments, uplifting their communities, and helping sustain equity and diversity in the economic engines of this nation. I am so grateful for President Wu and his team for making this partnership possible.”
Opening Doors to Top-Ranked Business School
The Business Academy provides a transparent, predictable, streamlined path for students to transition from partner CUNY community colleges to Baruch and its Zicklin School of Business, consistently ranked among the top business schools in the country.
Newly enrolled Hostos Community College students pursuing an Associate in Science degree in Business Management can enroll in the Academy. Participants gain access to cross-campus co-curricular activities, networking and career events, and peer-to-peer mentoring from current Zicklin students.
Upon completing their associate degree and meeting academic criteria, Academy students are guaranteed seamless admission to Baruch College and the Zicklin School, which offers 22 undergraduate Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree programs and concentrations and tracks. Students also benefit from internships, full-time career opportunities, and networking events with leading companies in New York and beyond.
Graduates of the Academy then join Baruch’s network of more than 180,000 alumni living and working across the country and around the world.
Student Success at the Zicklin School
Baruch College continues to be a thriving academic home for Business Academy students, with 184 currently enrolled and actively pursuing their business degrees.
This year, five Academy students proudly graduated with Baruch’s Class of 2025, marking a significant milestone in their educational journey. Looking ahead, the momentum is building—by Spring 2026, the number of Academy graduates from Baruch is expected to reach 60, reflecting the growing success and impact of this innovative partnership with CUNY community colleges.
Learn more about Baruch’s Business Academy.
Explore Zicklin School of Business.
Discover Hostos Community College.
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