Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Of the four institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Yeshiva of Ocean and State University of New York at New Paltz.
At least 13,253 people applied to Ulster County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 9,916 students enrolled in the universities, including 9,042 in undergraduate and 874 in graduate programs. In total 7.3% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (59.5%) and Hispanic (21%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, State University of New York at New Paltz stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 6,964 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for Bard College - Eastern NY Correctional Facility in Ulster County.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at New Paltz | 13,228 | 7,672 | 6,964 |
| Ulster County Community College | -- | -- | 2,912 |
| Bard College - Eastern NY Correctional Facility | -- | -- | -- |
| Yeshiva of Ocean | 25 | 16 | 40 |
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