SUNY enrollment promising, but more changes needed

There have been real concerns about the consequences of a serious dip in U.S. college and university enrollment, given the unprecedented decline in birth rates coupled with the deep achievement lag resulting from COVID-19, and the drop in international students in the second Trump term.

Yet recent numbers from the State University of New York show that it's possible to not only stall enrollment decline, but actually move enrollment upward and make it sustainable despite the obstacles.

Enrollment grew 6.5% in the last three years across the nation’s largest public higher education system, including over 9% at SUNY community and technology colleges. In the past year, Nassau Community College had the highest enrollment jump, 12.4%, of any community college in New York. Suffolk's grew 7%.

While first-time undergraduates at SUNY increased 4.6% between fall 2020 and fall 2025, at Old Westbury the figure was 46.4%. This stat is also encouraging: Stony Brook University's graduation rate is over 75%. Its enrollment has increased modestly by 2.2% in the past year, and 0.9% over the last five.

The numbers are particularly important because over the next four years, retirements will create a need for more than 5 million jobs for Americans with college degrees, according to Georgetown University. In areas like teaching and nursing, relatively insulated from tech like artificial intelligence, the retirements will create a gap of more than 1 million.

Why are these numbers in New York and on Long Island so promising? Start with affordability. At SUNY the cost of college is 50% lower than the average cost of private colleges nationwide and 10% lower than the public college average. This academic year, community college tuition for adult students is 100% free for degrees in areas of high labor market needs like health care, education, IT and green jobs, while enrolling veterans get discounts and academic credit for their military experience.

But colleges can't sit back and declare victory. More changes are underway and needed. It's not just military that should be credit-bearing. Credit for prior learning can be offered for community service and work experience. In addition, more high school students should take and pass college courses while in high school. In the P-TECH program, which I created and began in New York and which has spread across 16 states and 28 countries, high schoolers jointly enroll in college, taking high school and college courses simultaneously with access to career training provided by industry partners. In Uniondale, students obtain high school diplomas and two-year degrees in electronic engineering and digital graphics. P-TECH's success has included strong results particularly for young men of color.

Meanwhile, New York continues to invest — with $300 million for the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook University a prime example. Quantum computing is an engine for economic growth, putting New York in the front of the pack. For every dollar New York State invests in SUNY, $8 is returned, Rockefeller Institute research shows.

This needs to be seen in the context of the federal government's negative actions in higher education. Apart from reducing the number of international students coming here, its severe cuts at universities slashed over $7 billion in research funding — hurting public universities the most.

Investing in research and student tuition support in the present will double as an investment in our future. New York State has stepped up to the plate and has seen the positive effect on enrollment and its connection to economic growth. The state's leadership can and will continue, but effective federal government partnership and support is needed — which means a reversal of current misguided federal policy and disinvestment.

This guest essay reflects the views of Stanley S. Litow, a SUNY trustee and Columbia University professor.