new york city has many nationally important independent universities and colleges, such as barnard college, columbia university, cooper union, fordham university, long island university, manhattan college, new york institute of technology, new york university, pace university, pratt institute, st. john's university, the new school, vaughn college of aeronautics and technology, and yeshiva university. the city has dozens of other private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions, such as st. francis college, the juilliard school and the school of visual arts.