College of Staten Island is a public CUNY school, which means it's affordable, accessible, and seriously underrated. About 12,000 students, but the campus itself is quiet and beautiful—it's on the grounds of a former state hospital with actual green space. The academics are solid: engineering, business, sciences, liberal arts, all taught by professors who are there to teach, not gate-keep. Class sizes are reasonable, especially for a public university.
Staten Island is Staten Island—geographically isolated from the rest of the city, with its own culture and its own vibe. For some students that's a feature (less distracting, cheaper living, real community), for others it's a bug. The student body is diverse, working-class, and hardworking. CUNY schools are where smart, driven students go when they need affordable education, and CSI is no exception.
The school doesn't have the prestige name of Columbia or NYU, but it's genuinely good education for the price. The isolation can feel limiting if you want constant access to Manhattan nightlife, but it's actually perfect if you want to focus on studying and building real skills.