NYC and the King’s Mission
The high stakes of New York City are a feature, not a problem, and this challenge makes a King’s education more than academic.
Like all big cities, New York City isn’t always “safe.” This is one reason why The King’s College chose to move to Manhattan in 1999. We like being in the fray and showing — not just discussing — what it means to contend for what is good, to brave the difficulty, and to become ready for whatever the Lord has in store.
As Jeremiah 29:7 says, “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have called you.” Our community chooses to engage the world around us and seeks to both influence and learn from our world-class location. The high stakes of New York City are a feature, not a problem, and this challenge makes a King’s education more than academic. Following Jesus faithfully has never been safe, and we aim to shine the light of Christ in the darkness — in NYC and beyond — and we welcome students and families to join us.
Is it safe to go to college in New York City?
Many people remember the stories of the 1980s or see recent headlines regarding an uptick in crime and wonder, “Is it safe to go to college in New York City?” The answer is, “Yes, and there’s a reason we choose to be here.”
While every city will have some amount of criminal activity, New York City remains one of the safest large cities in the United States. In data from the most recent FBI crime report, New York City ranks at the same level as Colorado Springs, Colorado and Fort Worth, Texas. Statistically, New York is much safer than such cities as Denver, Minneapolis, Orlando, and Phoenix.
What’s this I’m hearing about rising crime?
While New York City, like almost all major cities, has experienced an uptick in crime over the last two years, there was almost no violent crime in 2021 in Manhattan’s 1st precinct, where the college is located, and Brooklyn’s 84th precinct, where many students live, despite millions of people living, working, and visiting in these large areas of New York City.
Additionally, New York City’s new mayor, Eric Adams, and new Governor, Kathy Hochul, recently announced a new joint-subway safety plan to support individuals experiencing homelessness or serious mental illness on New York City’s subways.
Why should I feel comfortable visiting or living in New York City?
For one, New York is truly the city that never sleeps. Unlike other cities that empty out in the evenings, New York City is full of people who help to keep each other safe. This creates an environment where there are always people around, which discourages crime and leads to consistently low crime rates in lower Manhattan. Additionally, our student body works to create a close-knit community, and the House system puts freshmen in close contact with upperclassmen who can help them navigate the urban environment.
As an extra layer of security, our campus and student housing facilities are only accessible through front desk security. Full-time staff also hold an emergency phone, which is accessible 24/7 during the academic year.
How do you prepare students to live safely?
During the New Student Orientation housing meeting, our student development staff share three tips for safely living as New Yorkers:
- Trust your gut.
- Be around people.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
At this meeting, upperclassmen expand upon these three concepts with practical examples and provide additional safety tips from their own personal examples. The 24/7 emergency phone number is provided in this meeting, as well as additional information regarding Title IX.
What do your students have to say?
In fall 2021, students who responded to a comprehensive satisfaction survey rated their satisfaction with campus as a safe and secure place for all students at a mean of 5.89 on a 7 point scale, reporting a higher satisfaction level than students at other Council for Christian Colleges and Universities institutions, who participated in the same survey. This demonstrates students’ felt sense of safety on campus as a positive and satisfying aspect of their experiences.
Learn More
We know that safety is a priority for you and we want to do everything we can to help you feel comfortable with you or your child attending college in New York City. If you’d like to learn more, look through our procedures and safety statistics in our Annual Safety Report.