Public higher education in New York is provided through the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) systems, which are funded by a combination of state and city appropriations, tuition revenue, and student financial aid. This page covers CBC’s work on rational tuition policies, state and city operating expenditures, the Excelsior Scholarship program, capital project procurement, and institutional funding trends.
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PPPs could be used to renovate some currently deficient educational facilities and keep them well maintained for the expected lifecycle.
The initial private capital and operating costs for educational facilities would be paid through the availability payment model, and several facilities could be grouped together.
It may be worthwhile to experiment with a PPP for residential facilities that generate user fees.
Policymakers should have PPP and Dormitory Authority managed facilities on the same campuses to ensure competition in prices and comparative performance standards.
Key Data
According to a December 2024 report, New York State's grants to local governments for higher education were $3,141 million in fiscal year 2024, while state operations spending for the State University of New York (SUNY) was $7,768 million.
A December 2024 summary shows that New York City's expenditures for CUNY Community Colleges stood at $1,129 million in fiscal year 2024, compared to $1,126 million in fiscal year 2023.
In an October 2018 policy brief, state support for SUNY and CUNY in the 2015-2016 school year was $10,130 per full-time equivalent student, which significantly exceeded the national average of $7,120.
An October 2018 analysis noted that SUNY and CUNY tuition rates increased approximately 40% between school years 2010-2011 and 2018-2019, though New York's annual tuition and fees of $7,940 in academic year 2017-2018 remained below the national average of $9,970.
In January 2017, the state's proposed Excelsior Scholarships were projected to have a state operating cost of $163 million when fully effective in 2019.
Sherif Soliman has more than 30 years of experience in government and currently serves as Budget Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget. In this role, he oversees the city’s fiscal policy, including the development of the expense and capital budgets, the city’s bond and…
New York City and State financial data for fiscal year 2024 show that expenditures for the City University of New York (CUNY) community colleges reached $1.1 billion, while state-level spending for the State University of New York (SUNY) totaled $12.5 billion. Additionally, New York State provided $3.1 billion in grants for higher education during the same period.
Key Data
$1,129 Million
— NYC expenditure for CUNY Community Colleges in fiscal year 2024.
$3,141 Million
— New York State grants for higher education in fiscal year 2024.
$12,515 Million
— New York State expenditure for the State University of New York in fiscal year 2024.
$3,981 Million
— New York State expenditure for the City University of New York in fiscal year 2024.
270,000—the number of two-year, four-year, and graduate degree seeking students enrolled in the City University of New York (CUNY). For generations CUNY has been an engine of economic mobility. With New York City sitting at the inflection point between the pandemic-driven recession and its recovery, CUNY will play a key…
Managing the City’s fiscal crisis well will be a critically important duty of the next Mayor and a primary determinant of how the city survives the current crisis, and ultimately thrives in the future. Managing NYC’s Fiscal Crisis: A CBC Mayoral Candidate Forum featured a 10-minute conversation with each candidate,…
Chancellor Malatras discussed his work with the Governor to mitigate the pandemic, his vision for SUNY, and how it is responding to the pandemic. After a conversation with CBC President Andrew Rein, Dr. Malatras took questions from the audience.
New York should extend the rational tuition policy for the State University of New York and the City University of New York, which allows for predictable, incremental tuition increases of up to $200 per year. This strategy helps maintain the affordability of public universities while ensuring they remain competitive with institutions in other states.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The State should extend the rational tuition policy at the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to allow for predictable, incremental tuition increases of up to $200 per year for four years.
Key Data
$200
— The maximum annual tuition increase authorized for SUNY and CUNY students under the proposed rational tuition policy.
Between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2019, the total New York City budget grew by $19 billion, representing an average annual increase of 4.5 percent. Of this total budget growth, 3 percent was allocated to the City University of New York (CUNY).
Key Data
3%
— The portion of the $19 billion total New York City budget growth from fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2019 allocated to CUNY.
The 2019 Economic Development Sweetener Scorecard catalogs various legislative bills aimed at economic development, including several proposals related to higher education and workforce training. These legislative items include initiatives for student entrepreneurship, STEM education grants, and community college technology investments, though the document itself does not provide specific policy recommendations or fiscal data regarding these higher education programs.
New York provides significantly more financial support for public higher education than the national average, with state subsidies increasing 7 percent over the decade leading up to 2016 while declining nationally. Despite tuition increases of approximately 40 percent since 2010, the cost of attending four-year public colleges in the state remains lower than the national average.
Key Data
$10,130
— State support per full-time equivalent student at public colleges in New York, compared to the national average of $7,120.
7 percent
— Increase in state subsidies for higher education in New York during the 10 years prior to school year 2015-2016.
40 percent
— Increase in SUNY and CUNY tuition rates between school years 2010-2011 and 2018-2019.
$7,940
— Annual tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities in New York in academic year 2017-2018.
$9,970
— National average annual tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities in academic year 2017-2018.
$200
— Annual tuition increase amount allowed under the rational tuition plan extended in 2016.
10 years is the amount of time the de Blasio administration says it will take to shut down Rikers Island. Special guest Michael Jacobson is the executive director of the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance. He was once the City's Correction Commissioner as well as the Probation Commissioner.…
The NYS FY2018 budget includes rational tuition policies for the State University of New York and the City University of New York, alongside the implementation of Excelsior College Scholarships and increased state aid. These measures represent a positive development within the broader state budget, which otherwise faces criticism for excessive spending and a lack of necessary reforms.
The proposed state budget includes a plan to re-authorize annual tuition increases of up to $250 for CUNY and SUNY, while also introducing the Excelsior College Scholarship program for families earning up to $125,000 by 2020. Concerns exist regarding the potential for underestimated enrollment costs and the mandate for private college foundations to contribute 10% of their funds to the scholarship program.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The state should re-authorize increases of up to $250 per year for five years for CUNY and SUNY tuition to maintain a rational and predictable tuition plan.
If the Excelsior College Scholarship program is adopted, it is imperative to ensure the state provides SUNY and CUNY with adequate resources to accommodate any increased enrollment.
The proposed requirement that private foundations affiliated with CUNY schools contribute 10% of their funds to the scholarship program should be eliminated, as foundations should be fully enabled to support additional initiatives selected by the colleges themselves.
Key Data
$250
— The maximum annual tuition increase per year for five years proposed for CUNY and SUNY.
$100,000
— The initial family income eligibility limit for the proposed Excelsior College Scholarship program.
$125,000
— The family income eligibility limit for the Excelsior College Scholarship program scheduled for 2020.
10%
— The portion of funds that private foundations affiliated with CUNY schools would be required to contribute to the scholarship program under the proposal.
On February 22, 2017, New York State Budget Director Robert Mujica presented highlights from the New York State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 to the Citizens Budget Commission.
The proposed Excelsior College Scholarships for middle-income families raise significant concerns regarding potential impacts on low-income student access, institutional capacity, and the necessity of ensuring graduation support. Additionally, expanding design-build authority to the City and State Universities of New York is a necessary step, though the current proposal unfairly excludes New York City from this cost-saving tool.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The state should expand design-build authority to include New York City, as it is a tool that has provided savings to the State.
The proposed tuition plan should also apply to the scholarship students.
Key Data
$163 million
— The estimated state cost for the proposed Excelsior College Scholarships.
The New York State fiscal year 2018 executive budget proposal includes $110 million for SUNY/CUNY 2020 grants and $163 million for the Excelsior Scholarship program when fully effective in 2019. These initiatives are part of a broader set of proposed investments in higher education and other state programs that remain subject to legislative review and budget negotiations.
Key Data
$110 Million
— Proposed funding for SUNY/CUNY 2020 grants in the fiscal year 2018 executive budget.
$163 Million
— Proposed funding for Excelsior Scholarships when fully effective in 2019.
$5.3 Million
— Proposed funding for Early College High Schools.
The fiscal year 2017 New York State budget failed to include necessary reforms for higher education, specifically neglecting to reauthorize a rational tuition policy for SUNY and CUNY. While the budget correctly avoided shifting CUNY costs to New York City, it missed the opportunity to implement sustainable tuition structures for the state's public university systems.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The State should reauthorize a rational tuition policy for SUNY and CUNY.
The SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 program, which provides predictable tuition increases and maintains state financial support, should be extended for another five years to avoid irrational tuition fluctuations. This program has kept New York's public university tuition rates significantly lower than the national average and neighboring states, ensuring affordability while supporting institutional quality.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The final budget should extend the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program for an additional five years.
New York State should extend the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program for another five years to ensure tuition predictability and maintain public support.
Key Data
$300
— Annual tuition increase authorized by the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program.
70 percent
— Portion of CUNY students who do not pay tuition.
$1 billion
— Annual state financial support provided to SUNY senior colleges.
$1.2 billion
— Annual state financial support provided to CUNY senior colleges.
$7,640
— Average in-state tuition and fees for public four-year undergraduate universities in New York.
$9,410
— National average in-state tuition and fees for public four-year undergraduate universities.
The state budget proposes extending the rational tuition plan for CUNY and SUNY for five years, provided the systems demonstrate spending reductions to justify future tuition hikes. Additionally, the budget includes a controversial proposal to shift $2.3 billion in expenses, including CUNY senior college costs, from the state to New York City.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The SUNY and CUNY systems should be required to demonstrate efforts to reduce spending in order to justify further tuition increases.
The proposal to shift a portion of CUNY senior college costs from the State to New York City should be rejected, as no other counties are required to contribute to senior colleges.
Key Data
$2.3 billion
— The amount of expenses shifted from the State to New York City over three years, including CUNY senior college costs and Medicaid growth.
$110 million
— The amount allocated for SUNY/CUNY challenge grants within the proposed economic development spending.
The FY2016-2017 Executive Budget allocates $470 million for university-related initiatives and $110 million in new SUNY/CUNY 2020 challenge grants. The proposal to increase the local contribution for CUNY senior colleges is criticized as a negative policy shift that should be avoided.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The state should avoid rolling back the cap on the local contribution for CUNY senior colleges, as doing so would be a giant step in the wrong direction.
Key Data
$470 million
— Allocated for university-related initiatives in the Executive Budget.
$110 million
— Allocated for new SUNY/CUNY 2020 challenge grants.
The 2011 state tuition plan established a framework for annual $300 tuition increases while ending the practice of using tuition hikes to address budget gaps. Future budget considerations include whether to extend these predictable tuition increases and how to fund new contracts for faculty at public universities.
Key Data
$300
— Annual tuition increase allowed under the five-year tuition plan passed by the State in 2011.
The fiscal year 2016 executive budget includes $110 million in funding for SUNY and CUNY through 2020 challenge grants. This allocation is part of a broader expansion of economic development programs and tax credits proposed by the Governor.
Key Data
$110 million
— Proposed funding for SUNY and CUNY through 2020 challenge grants in the FY2016 Executive Budget.
This presentation was given by Maria Doulis, CBC’s Director of New York City Studies, at “The Measured City: Using Data to Improve New York City Government” Conference, on Oct. 30, 2013.
The New York State 10-year statewide capital plan allocates $11.3 billion to the State University of New York (SUNY) and $5.5 billion to the City University of New York (CUNY) for infrastructure investments. These figures represent a portion of the $174.4 billion total planned investment commitments across eight broad sectors aimed at improving state infrastructure.
Key Data
$11.3 billion
— Planned capital investment commitment for the **State University of New York (SUNY)**.
$5.5 billion
— Planned capital investment commitment for the **City University of New York (CUNY)**.
New York City must prioritize attracting and retaining a highly educated workforce to ensure future economic growth and competitiveness. To achieve this, the city should focus on supporting higher education in specialized fields, training residents for future job markets, and maintaining affordability for students and workers.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
More can be done to support higher education in fields where we lack depth.
The next mayor must keep the city a safe, attractive and affordable place to study, live and work.
The city should train New Yorkers for the jobs of tomorrow.
New York's public university systems, CUNY and SUNY, face critical maintenance backlogs totaling $4.9 billion, which could be addressed by utilizing public-private partnerships to renovate and maintain facilities. These partnerships could leverage private capital to improve infrastructure and ensure long-term maintenance standards for these aging educational assets.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
PPPs could be used to renovate some currently deficient educational facilities and keep them well maintained for the expected lifecycle.
The initial private capital and operating costs for higher educational facilities would be paid through the availability payment model, and several facilities could be grouped together.
It may be worthwhile to experiment with a PPP for residential facilities that generate user fees at higher education institutions.
Policymakers should utilize PPP and Dormitory Authority managed facilities on the same campuses to ensure competition in prices and comparative performance standards.
Key Data
$3.2 Billion
— Critical maintenance backlog identified for the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
$1.7 Billion
— Critical maintenance backlog identified for the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
New York's public university systems, SUNY and CUNY, have been authorized to implement five-year plans for regular, reasonable tuition increases to enhance their academic stature and research capabilities. This policy change aims to provide a more stable financial framework for these institutions to develop designated campuses into flagship research centers.
New York's public higher education system suffers from legislative control over tuition rates, which leads to erratic, sharp increases and prevents universities from effectively managing their resources. To improve the system, the state should grant SUNY and CUNY autonomy to set differential tuition and reverse recent cuts to the Tuition Assistance Program that have limited financial aid for students.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
Allow the universities to raise tuition without legislative approval to lead to more regular, modest, and predictable tuition hikes.
Allow SUNY and CUNY to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to recognize variation in costs and maximize revenue.
Reverse the trend of reducing TAP funding and tightening eligibility standards to ensure affordability for needy students.
Establish a more rational tuition policy and greater regulatory freedom for New York's entire system of public higher education.
Key Data
$40 million
— Amount diverted by the legislature from a five percent tuition increase that was approved by CUNY's Board of Trustees.
$5,790
— Average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students charged by New York's four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$7,605
— National average for tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students in 2010-11.
$12,870
— SUNY's out-of-state undergraduate tuition in 2009-10.
$8,500
— Amount by which SUNY's out-of-state undergraduate tuition was less than the average out-of-state tuition at 29 comparable state universities.
$1,252
— Amount by which New York's in-state tuition and fees at community colleges in 2010-11 exceeded the national average.
New York's public higher education system suffers from erratic tuition policies and legislative interference that diverts revenue away from improving educational quality. To create a more rational funding system, the state should grant SUNY and CUNY institutions greater autonomy over tuition and asset management while reversing recent cuts to financial aid programs like TAP.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
All public higher education institutions in New York should be given the same authority regarding tuition policies and control over physical assets as proposed for SUNY at Buffalo.
The state should allow universities to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to recognize variation in costs and maximize revenue.
The state should grant universities the ability to raise tuition without legislative approval to ensure more regular, modest, and predictable tuition hikes.
State leaders should reverse the trend of reducing financial aid and ensure the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is expanded to mitigate the impact of higher tuition on needy students.
Key Data
$5,790
— Average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students charged by New York's four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$7,605
— National average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students at four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$12,870
— SUNY's out-of-state undergraduate tuition in 2009-10.
$40 million
— CUNY tuition revenue that the Legislature refused to appropriate in the 2011 budget cycle.
$1,252
— Amount by which New York’s in-state tuition and fees at community colleges in 2010-11 exceeded the national average.
$4,000
— Reduced maximum award for students in 2-year colleges under the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
The 2010-11 New York State budget failed to adopt necessary reforms for SUNY and CUNY tuition policy, representing a missed opportunity to improve the system. Consequently, the SUNY system remains tied to the Legislature, hindering momentum for essential structural changes.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The State should have adopted the proposed reforms for SUNY and CUNY tuition policy to avoid missing a significant opportunity.
New York's public university systems, SUNY and CUNY, are currently constrained by legislative control over tuition, which leads to erratic, politically-driven price hikes rather than stable, predictable funding. Granting these institutions the authority to set their own tuition rates and implement differential pricing would allow for more consistent revenue management while maintaining affordability through existing financial aid programs.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The Legislature should pass the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act to improve the SUNY and CUNY systems.
New York should give SUNY and CUNY full control over tuition rates to university officials.
The state should eliminate the requirement that the Legislature appropriate tuition funds to allow for more predictable revenue.
The university systems should be permitted to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to reflect variations in costs and market demand.
Policymakers must ensure that TAP grants are not reduced to maintain accessibility for low-income students despite tuition increases.
Key Data
$500
— The proposed annual cap on tuition increases for SUNY and CUNY.
$5,761
— The 2009-10 average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students at New York's four-year public colleges and universities.
18 percent
— The amount by which New York's average resident undergraduate tuition and fees were below the national average of $7,020 in 2009-10.
$12,870
— The 2009-10 out-of-state undergraduate tuition rate.
40 percent
— The amount by which out-of-state undergraduate tuition was less than that at 29 comparable state universities in 2009-10.
28 percent
— The tuition increase implemented during the recessions in 1995 and 2003.
New York's public higher education system should reform its funding model by removing tuition revenue from the legislative appropriation process and allowing universities to set their own tuition rates, capped by the Higher Education Price Index. To ensure continued access for low-income students, these reforms must be paired with the rejection of proposed cuts to the Tuition Assistance Program.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
Remove tuition revenue from the legislative appropriation process to allow CUNY and SUNY to control directly their tuition revenue.
Grant university officials full control over tuition rates, subject to an annual cap of two-and-one-half times the five-year rolling average of the Higher Education Price Index.
Implement differential tuition policies to allow universities to recognize variation in costs among different programs and campuses.
Reject the proposed cuts in financial aid, specifically the reduction of Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants, if the higher education reforms are adopted.
Key Data
$13.5 billion
— The total size of the public higher education system in New York, including SUNY and CUNY.
$2.7 billion
— The amount SUNY and CUNY collect annually in tuition.
$5,761
— The average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students charged by New York's four-year public colleges and universities in 2009-10.
$827 million
— The estimated amount awarded in grants to eligible undergraduates through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) during the 2007-08 academic year.
$3,888
— The average in-state tuition and fees at New York's community colleges in 2009-10.
The New York State fiscal year 2009-10 budget included tuition increases for public universities that generated $122 million in revenue. These increases were officially reported as reductions in general fund spending rather than as direct funding adjustments.
Key Data
$122 million
— Revenue generated from tuition increases for public universities in the fiscal year 2009-10 budget.
The state budget proposal includes significant tuition increases for SUNY and CUNY, alongside assessments on research foundations, which are categorized as revenue-raising measures rather than spending cuts. To address fiscal challenges, the state should examine the root causes of employment growth within these higher education systems to contain costs without compromising core services.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
The Legislature should examine the root causes of high growth in employment in key agencies, such as SUNY, CUNY and the judiciary, to contain growth without damaging core services.
The State should reduce the size of agency workforces, including SUNY and CUNY, to fiscal year 2006-07 levels to achieve savings of $283 million per year.
Key Data
$283 million
— Annual savings achievable if the workforces of agencies like SUNY and CUNY were reduced to fiscal year 2006-07 levels.
$197.0 million
— Revenue generated from the proposed SUNY/CUNY tuition increase.
$10.0 million
— Revenue generated from the higher education assessment on research foundations.
Public-private partnerships are proposed as a potential strategy for managing infrastructure within the SUNY and CUNY systems, targeting facilities that have historically suffered from poor maintenance. This approach aims to leverage private sector expertise to improve long-term asset management and operational efficiency for these educational institutions.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
For New York City and New York State, initial application of these criteria suggests that facilities in the SUNY and CUNY systems may be good candidates for public-private partnerships.
New York's public university systems, CUNY and SUNY, face critical maintenance backlogs totaling $4.9 billion for their aging facilities. Public-private partnerships could be utilized to renovate these educational facilities and manage them over their lifecycles, potentially through availability payment models or by experimenting with user-fee-generating residential projects.
Recommendations related to Higher Education Funding (CUNY/SUNY)
PPPs could be used to renovate some currently deficient educational facilities and keep them well maintained for the expected lifecycle.
The initial private capital and operating costs for educational facilities would be paid through the availability payment model, and several facilities could be grouped together.
It may be worthwhile to experiment with a PPP for residential facilities that generate user fees.
Policymakers should have PPP and Dormitory Authority managed facilities on the same campuses to ensure competition in prices and comparative performance standards.
Key Data
$3.2 billion
— Critical maintenance backlog identified for the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
$1.7 billion
— Critical maintenance backlog identified for the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
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