Spectrum News - Private colleges closing across New York; SUNY enrollment rising

BY Arin Cotel-Altman
Albany
PUBLISHED 4:21 PM ET May 13, 2025

College enrollment is down across the United States and the drop in applications is contributing to the closure of some colleges and universities. According to New York education officials, 18 degree-granting institutions have closed or announced closures since 2016.

And while the State University of New York has had its own enrollment issues in the past, it's been able to avoid closing campuses in recent years.

What You Need To Know
• According to the state Education Department, 10 private schools have shut down in New York over the last two years
• NYSED also says 18 degree-granting institutions have closed, or announced closures, since 2016
• SUNY hasn’t had the same issue recently, although its had enrollment issues in the past

Jaelyn Staiano attended the cold case analysis program at The College of Saint Rose before it closed last year. She then transferred to the University at Albany, since the school took over that program.

“I wanted to be part of a work force that not only does thorough work to solve crimes or to make the world safer, but to also meet victims' needs," said Staiano. “I was very upset knowing that I was going to be losing my small, tight-knit community. But I also saw it as an avenue for bigger things."

/snip