MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Ranked among the fastest growing State University of New York (SUNY) community colleges during the Fall 2024 semester, SUNY Orange continued its enrollment surge this Fall, welcoming 6.1 percent more students to its classrooms and marking the 11^th successive academic session in which the College has enjoyed year-over-year enrollment growth.

A year ago, in data released by the SUNY system, SUNY Orange had grown 14.6 percent from Fall 2022 to Fall 2024, third highest among the system’s 30 community colleges during that two-year window. Official Fall 2025 enrollment reporting for community colleges is due to SUNY on Nov. 1. SUNY Orange’s 6.1 percent increase this Fall was captured at the conclusion of the semester’s third week and includes college students only. SUNY Orange’s robust Community College in the High School (CCHS) student population will be factored into the Nov. 1 report.

Dr. Kristine Young, SUNY Orange President: “Our entire College community has embraced a culture of supporting our students so they can reach their academic and life goals. It also pleases me that more students are choosing to have a higher education experience, and they recognize that SUNY Orange delivers an accessible, high-quality education that is affordable and local.

“The College is also tremendously fortunate to be geographically located in Orange County, where we continue to receive significant support. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, his administration and the Orange County Legislature value SUNY Orange’s role in educating students, partnering with businesses and organizations, and fueling economic development. Additionally, we appreciate our place within a diverse and expansive SUNY system, under Chancellor John King’s leadership, that offers our students a wealth of transfer opportunities where they can continue to learn and grow.”

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus: “Each year, more students are choosing to invest in their education right here in Orange County, which speaks volumes about the quality of education and the opportunity this college provides. SUNY Orange plays a vital role in strengthening our local workforce, supporting our businesses, and preparing the next generation of leaders who will help drive our County forward.”

Dr. Erika Hackman, SUNY Orange Provost: “This great news didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of intentional, dedicated work from our faculty and staff over nearly a decade. Eight years ago, we implemented Guided Pathways as a first step in turning around enrollment declines that started in 2012. But more importantly, we wanted to transform the SUNY Orange Experience for our students. Today I'm proud to say we've done exactly that, and you can see the results—more students returning to our classrooms, walking our campuses, graduating, and landing jobs.”

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The College’s string of current enrollment increases dates to the Spring 2023 semester. In the 2024-25 academic year alone, SUNY Orange enrollment was up 6.1 percent last Fall, 22.2 percent in Winter, 6.5 percent in Spring and 15.9 percent in Summer. Increases are coming from nearly all sectors of the student body, and the College can point to a wide variety of initiatives for its success.

During Young’s tenure, the College has leveraged a pair of federal grants—Title III and Title V—to reshape the student experience. Refreshed orientations welcome students in a new and inviting way. First-Year Experience courses play a vital role in students’ successful transition to college. Student learning communities foster a sense of purpose and identity for students. Pathway coaches, hired with the help of the Title V grant, provide holistic support that extends beyond academics. And an online early intervention system, branded as Orange Connect, identifies early signs of academic concerns so students can seek help before it is too late.

In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the College developed its first-ever five-year Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. That plan identified key enrollment targets and shaped recruitment efforts. The College has built local partnerships (with such businesses as Amazon and Legoland) to bring SUNY Orange programs to more prospective students, and marketing SUNY Orange as the place where “Your Path Begins Here” has heightened awareness that the College offers a high-quality education that is accessible, affordable, and local.

And finally, by leaning into a variety of federal- and state-funded opportunity programs, SUNY Orange has been able to serve and support those who may otherwise be underserved or financially disadvantaged. Programs like CSTEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program),  EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) and TRiO provide students with individual counseling, specific resource referrals, and targeted workshops, while also creating a sense of belonging for students.

In Spring 2024, SUNY Orange launched the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative, joining a host of fellow SUNY community colleges. ASAP provides academic, financial, and personal support to ensure students can complete their associate degrees on time by reducing financial burdens, providing structured pathways to gain and maintain academic momentum, and creating communities through engagement activities.

With ASAP and other programs in place, full-time enrollment this Fall grew modestly (+3.3%) while part-time enrollment demonstrated much stronger gains (+9.4%), showing the continuing trend of more students balancing academics around work and family obligations.

Fall 2025 enrollment featured continued growth in first-time students (+6.6%) while many of the programs mentioned above contributed to an increase in continuing students (+7.8%). As part of its recruiting strategy, the College initiated outreach to students who had previously attended SUNY Orange but had been away for more than a year, and those efforts resulted in 11.0 percent more returning students enrolling for Fall 2025.

The newest program to augment SUNY Orange enrollment is SUNY Reconnect, a statewide tuition-free initiative from Governor Kathy Hochul designed to help adults between the ages of 25 and 55 who have yet to complete a college degree return to finish their education at a SUNY community college. It offers personalized support, flexible class options, and guidance to make returning to college easier and more affordable.

SUNY Reconnect was unveiled statewide in May and was part of the College’s broader focused marketing strategy that helped attract 14.0 percent more post-traditional adult students (25 to 55) compared to one year ago. Designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, SUNY Orange also experienced growth among Hispanic (+11.8%) and Black/African American (+9.5%) students this Fall.

To learn more about SUNY Orange’s academic programs, visit www.sunyorange.edu/getstarted, or contact the Admissions Office at (845) 341-4030 or at apply@sunyorange.edu.

Additional Quotes from Thursday's Press Conference

Mohua Gazi, second-year student, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Science degree program: The academic foundation I am building here, along with my other experiences outside of the classroom, will help me achieve my goals.I’ve noticed the increase in students during my time, and I think it shows that good things are happening here for many of us. I think I can speak for a lot of my fellow classmates. There is an energy on campus. We notice it in Student Senate. Students are excited to be here. They may each have their good days and bad days, and there might be “life” things that they have to deal with. But many of them feel that they can find the support and guidance they need from a student services staff member, or the caring guidance of a professor.

"This place has shaped me, it's pushed me, supported me, and given me the confidence to aim higher and take the  skills I'm developing into my future. I’m really proud to call SUNY Orange my starting point. This is a community that helps you grow and actually believes in your potential."

Madeline Torres-Diaz, AVP for Student Engagement and Completion: "It’s truly an honor to be here today to share a brief highlight of the incredible ways SUNY Orange supports its students from their first day to commencement. From ensuring no one goes hungry through our on-campus Food Pantry, to helping adults return to college tuition-free through our newest initiative—SUNY Reconnect—our wraparound services and opportunity programs are designed to remove barriers and open doors to success."

Dr. Angela Rios, AVP for Learning and Student Success: "Over the past few years, through our Title V work and Guided Pathways initiatives, we’ve been intentional about transforming the student experience at SUNY Orange. We’ve reimagined how students begin, belong, and succeed. SUNY Orange is proud to create a more inclusive, supportive, and student-centered college experience for everyone who walks through our doors. This is what it means to belong, to succeed, and to thrive at SUNY Orange."