MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – State University of New York (SUNY) Fall 2024 enrollment data distributed by Governor Kathy Hochul today (Nov. 13) shows SUNY Orange to be among the fastest growing community colleges in the state, having increased enrollment 6.1 percent compared to last Fall and 14.6 percent in the past two years.

The 6.1 percent year-over-year increase ranks sixth among the 30 SUNY community colleges while SUNY Orange’s two-year increase is third best among the 30 campuses. SUNY Orange’s growth also far outpaces the average community college enrollment increases of 1.9 percent over last year and 3.7 percent in the past two years. Across all 64 colleges and universities within SUNY, enrollment surged 2.3 percent over last year and 3.4 percent in the past two years. Meanwhile, SUNY Orange has seen increased enrollment over seven successive academic sessions, dating to Spring 2023.

SUNY’s data report includes only those students enrolled in credit programs. Community college enrollment (165,229) accounts for 43.9 percent of overall SUNY credit enrollment this Fall.

“It is great to see that credit enrollment is up in all sectors of SUNY,” said Dr. Kristine Young, SUNY Orange president, who also serves as president of the New York Community College Association of Presidents (NYCCAP). “SUNY’s report shows that two thirds of our community colleges saw an enrollment increase over last year. That is significant. I know my community college colleagues across the state remain focused on meeting students where they are with relevant degrees, as well as with microcredentials and workforce training programs that are not represented in this data but that support all New Yorkers.

“SUNY Orange’s strong enrollment increases are a clear validation of the tremendous work by everyone at SUNY Orange over the past several years. These results have been made possible by concerted efforts we began even before the pandemic, and I particularly appreciate the commitment of our faculty, staff and administrative leadership in focusing on credit enrollment and retention,” Young added. “With our College-wide Strategic Plan and our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan as guideposts, we are recruiting and retaining students at significantly higher rates. We remain determined to support students as robustly as possible, but certainly these numbers also show how strongly our students are committed to their own education and to finding success.”

This Fall, SUNY Orange has enrolled 5,713 students combined in its degree programs and Community College in the High School (CCHS) offerings. That is up from 5,386 students in Fall 2023 and 4,985 students in Fall 2022. Six in 10 of the College’s students are part-time, a number significantly influenced by more than 1,600 CCHS students.

Between last Fall and this Fall, the College has seen growth of 13.6 percent in its Hispanic enrollment, a 7.1 percent increase in Black students and a 21.6 percent rise in Asian students. The white student population grew by 8.7 percent while females surged 7.2 percent and males rose by 4.3 percent. As part of its SEM plan, SUNY Orange established targeted benchmark enrollment numbers for a variety of categories during each year from 2021 through 2025. This Fall, the College surpassed its stated 2024 goals for new, transfer, male and Hispanic students.

Retention rates at the College continue to climb as well. Full-time retention (students who register in one Fall semester and return to the classroom one year later) dipped during the pandemic to 51 percent for students who entered in Fall 2020). Among students who enrolled in Fall 2022, 63 percent returned in Fall 2023 (Fall 2024 numbers will be available soon).

Spring 2025 registration for continuing students has just begun and the College is accepting applications for students wishing to enroll for the first time this Spring. Classes will begin Jan. 21.