SUNY Celebrates 10 Years of Record-Setting Enrollment

Albany – State University of New York Interim Chancellor John B. Clark today announced record-setting enrollment for fall 2007.   SUNY’s overall enrollment grew by 2.2 percent to 426,891 students, according to preliminary estimates, an increase of 9,308 students over last year. 

This is the 10th consecutive year SUNY enrollment has increased.

“The continuing increase in enrollment reflects our world-class faculty and the high-quality education students receive at our colleges and universities,” said Clark.  “I commend our campuses for this outstanding achievement.”

Since fall 1996, the student population of the 64 SUNY campuses has increased by 58,432 students, nearly 16 percent, growing from 368,459 to 426,891. 

“Record-setting enrollment demonstrates that SUNY continues to fulfill its mission of providing New York’s citizens with the broadest possible access to an excellent education,” said SUNY Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden.  “The growth in full-time enrollment is most encouraging, as more students will earn degrees sooner and then contribute to New York’s workforce or continue their academic careers and earn advanced and professional degrees.”

The fall 2007 SUNY freshman class grew by 5.3 percent to 74,149 students – the largest class in history. In addition, full-time student enrollment reached an all-time high of 298,626 students, a 2.7 percent increase.

“We welcomed our largest freshman class in our history this fall, which indicates more New Yorkers are choosing SUNY,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Risa I. Palm.  “At the same time, undergraduate transfer enrollment is also at record levels.  Students who, for what ever reason, need to change schools can do so successfully. Attracting and retaining transfer students is a high priority for SUNY as students with degrees are in a stronger position to contribute to the society and economy of our state.”

Although preliminary estimates for minority student enrollment are not yet available for this year, last year SUNY set records when minority enrollment grew to 81,907 students, nearly 20 percent of SUNY’s total enrollment.

Enrollment Highlights

• Enrollment at the state-operated and the community college campuses are at an all-time high. For the third straight year, more students enrolled in community college than did at the state-operated colleges (214,782 vs. 212,109).

• Colleges of Technology at Canton, Cobleskill, Delhi, Farmingdale and the Maritime College experienced their highest enrollment growth at 4.1 percent (1,002 more students.)

• The state-operated sector with the largest numbers of enrolled students was the doctoral degree-granting sector at 97,011 students (a 2 percent growth). This sector comprises the University at Albany, Binghamton University, University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University, the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Downstate Medical Center, Upstate Medical University, and the College of Optometry.

• Part-time student enrollment increased .02 percent to 127,095 students.

• New undergraduate transfer students also reached an all-time high of 25,020.

• SUNY boasts the highest graduate student enrollment in its history as it enrolled 40,676 students this year. .

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 427,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu

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