Enrollment at the State University of New York on Long Island increased, while Stony Brook University, Farmingdale State College and the State University of New York at Old Westbury reached new records.
Stony Brook University welcomed the most new students in its 67-year history: 4,402 freshmen, up 13 percent from last year. Transfer students increased 4 percent. The campus also received more undergraduate applications than any other university in the State University of New York, university officials said.
“This historic freshman enrollment is a testament to Stony Brook University’s unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience and our growing reputation as one of the nation’s most distinguished public flagship research universities,” Interim President Richard McCormick said in a news release about the enrollment increase.
While Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have seen declines in enrollment of students of color, Stony Brook University’s enrollment of freshmen who identify as Black increased from 364 in fall 2023 to 433 in fall 2024. Students who identify as Latino increased from 496 in fall 2023 to 633 in fall 2024. This represents an increase of more than 200 students who identify as Black or Latino from the previous year.
“Stony Brook University today dramatically embodies all of the most significant developments in modern American higher education: a growing and diverse student body, expanding research activity and research outputs that contribute significantly to our economy and society,” McCormick said.
According to the Education Data Initiative, a research group, college enrollment nationwide has been declining since 2010. Enrollment peaked at 21.02 million in 2010 and has declined 11.61% since then. The group projects that by 2024, 73.2% of students enrolled in higher education institutions will be at public institutions and 60.8% at private institutions.
On Long Island, Farmingdale State College also hit a new record this fall with enrollment increasing 6 percent from the previous academic year to 10,041 students, college officials said.
Farmingdale State College welcomed more than 1,900 new students this fall, a 9% increase from last year, and received 15,308 applications for fall 2024, an 8% increase from last year.
The university has also seen its honors programs and outreach efforts grow.
“Reaching this year’s enrollment milestone is a testament to our campus-wide commitment to providing an advanced education that empowers students through individualized support and exceptional value,” Rohan Howell, Farmingdale State College’s vice president for enrollment management, said in a news release about the enrollment increase.
“As we continue to innovate and expand, we remain committed to providing excellent educational opportunities that attract a diverse and talented student population,” Howell said.
At the State University of New York at Old Westbury, there are 800 incoming freshmen for the 2024-25 school year, up 10% from the previous school year and beating the campus’ previous record of 751 in 2018.
“We are pleased to welcome more new students than ever before,” SUNY-Old Westbury Chancellor Timothy Sams said in a news release about this year’s enrollment increase.
“We see this achievement as further evidence that our academic offerings, campus community focused on student success and commitment to justice and equity are a great fit for today’s students who want to prepare for the jobs and world of the future,” Sams said.
The campus has seen an increase in applications this fall, with about 7,800 applications for first-year students, an 11% increase from the fall.
SUNY President John King said in May that freshman enrollment had increased by 4%, according to Spectrum News 1. At the time, he said some campuses that saw enrollment declines “have not aligned their staffing or programs to current enrollment levels, so these campuses have made changes. At the same time, many of these campuses are also investing in other areas that are growing.”
Enrollment in Farmingdale State College’s Honors Program continues to grow with a record number of 29 new freshmen enrolled since the first class began in 2022, bringing the total number of students in the program to 60. The program combines academic rigor in and out of the classroom, connections to the community on and off campus, and access to scholarships and fellowships throughout a student’s college career.
This year, the university welcomed 215 students into its Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program, a new initiative that provides comprehensive support to ensure students’ academic success, student retention and on-time graduation. The program offers resources and support to help Pell Grant-eligible students overcome barriers that prevent them from reaching their goals and earning their degrees, including funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation and other costs of attendance, academic support, comprehensive personalized advising and career development activities. Farmingdale is one of 25 SUNY campuses that offer the ACE program or its community college’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways.
The university also welcomed its largest class of freshmen ever to the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP), a statewide assistance program offered through SUNY that provides academic advising, tutoring, financial aid and individual counseling to students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they have access to the tools they need for academic success.