Lawmakers OK Suffolk County Community College's budget, with no tuition hikes

Suffolk County lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved a $226.1 million Suffolk County Community College budget, which includes no tuition increases for 2026-27.

Ed Bonahue, the college president, said enrollment growth and additional state support allowed the college to maintain the current tuition rate.

“We’re very proud that this is a balanced budget with no tuition increase this year, and we appreciate the legislature’s support,” he told lawmakers at Tuesday’s general meeting.

The college froze tuition for three years at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Tuition then increased by an average of 3.4% per year from 2023-24 through 2025-26.

Tuition per semester for full-time county residents is $3,025 and $6,050 for nonresidents. The resident rate for part-time students is $252 per credit each semester and $504 for nonresidents.

The budget includes a 2% increase in the county’s contribution, or an additional $999,475 to about $50.9 million. The college has requested an increase each year since 2014-15 and the county obliged each year except for 2020-21 at the start of the pandemic, according to a report analyzing the budget completed by the legislature’s Budget Review Office.

Bonahue and Sara Gorton, the college's vice president for financial affairs, presented an overview of the budget to lawmakers at a committee meeting last week.

“Overall, we feel this is a very fiscally responsible budget that positions the college for continued growth and stability,” Gorton said.

Bonahue said the college presented a budget that would have allowed it to use reserves to close a deficit of $4 million. He said the college now appears to be ending the year with a “modest surplus.”

They both highlighted the success of the SUNY Reconnect program, which allows adults between ages 25 and 55 who do not already have a college degree to earn two-year degrees in certain fields for free.

The total budget figure, which includes grants, represents an increase of about 1.4% from the adopted 2025-26 budget, according to the budget review office.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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