SUNY reports record enrollment, with SCCC its top gainer

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

The State University of New York reported the greatest enrollment in its history, with Schenectady County Community College leading the way with a 17.4 percent increase over the past year.

Total SUNY enrollment stands at 439,624 students, according to preliminary estimates. This represents an increase of 12,226 students from last fall.

SUNY’s enrollment has grown almost 20 percent in the past decade.

A total of 110,332 new students enrolled at SUNY, which is 25 percent of the total enrollment. The class of full-time freshmen increased almost 5 percent to 76,828 students.

“This record enrollment is more evidence that students recognize the educational excellence offered by our SUNY campuses,” SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl T. Hayden said in a news release. “In a time of difficult economic challenges for students and their families, SUNY clearly is the right choice for an accessible, affordable and high quality higher education experience.”