The State University of New York (SUNY) is a public higher education system that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction across campuses throughout New York State. This page covers CBC’s work on tuition policy, institutional autonomy, state financial support, capital infrastructure investment, and student financial aid programs.
This page was created with AICBC Insights uses AI to group, analyze and present data and recommendations from CBC's publications. Always reference the cited sources to verify important details..
Key Data
In March 2016, the CBC noted that New York's average in-state tuition and fees for public four-year universities was $7,640, which was approximately 19 percent lower than the national average of $9,410.
As of March 2016, the State maintained its financial commitment to public universities by providing approximately $1 billion to SUNY and $1.2 billion to CUNY senior colleges annually.
In a September 2013 report on the statewide capital plan, the State University of New York (SUNY) was slated to receive $11.3 billion in planned investment commitments for the 2013-14 to 2022-23 period.
Writing in May 2011, the CBC highlighted that New York's in-state tuition and fees at community colleges were $1,252 above the national average, ranking as the third highest among peer states.
In May 2010, the CBC reported that during the 2009 economic downturn, tuition for full-time undergraduates was increased by 14 percent at SUNY and 15 percent at CUNY to help close budget gaps.
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.
Extending the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program for another five years is essential to maintain predictable tuition rates and consistent state financial support for public universities. This policy prevents the return of volatile tuition spikes during economic downturns while keeping New York's public university costs significantly lower than the national average.
Recommendations related to State University of New York (SUNY)
The final budget should include the extension of the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program to ensure continued tuition predictability and state support.
Extending the SUNY 2020 and CUNY 2020 Program for another five years would extend tuition predictability and the state’s requirement to maintain public support, while maintaining New York’s competitive position.
Key Data
$6,470
— In-state tuition per academic year at SUNY four-year institutions in 2015-2016.
$1 billion
— Annual financial support provided by the State to SUNY 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.
19%
— Amount by which New York's average in-state tuition and fees are lower than the national average.
70%
— Percentage of CUNY students who do not pay tuition due to federal Pell grants and the state Tuition Assistance Program.
The New York State 10-year statewide capital plan allocates $11.3 billion to the State University of New York (SUNY) for infrastructure investments. Of this total, $3.6 billion is specifically designated for State of Good Repair (SOGR) projects to maintain campus centers and facilities.
Key Data
$11.3 Billion
— Total planned investment for the State University of New York (SUNY) in the 10-year statewide capital plan.
$3.6 Billion
— Amount allocated to the State University of New York (SUNY) for State of Good Repair (SOGR) projects.
New York's public higher education system should be granted greater autonomy to set tuition policies, including the ability to implement differential tuition across campuses and programs to better reflect costs and demand. To ensure continued access for low-income students, the state must reverse recent cuts to the Tuition Assistance Program and expand financial aid to mitigate the impact of potential tuition increases.
Recommendations related to State University of New York (SUNY)
The state should allow universities to raise tuition without legislative approval to ensure more modest and predictable tuition increments.
SUNY and CUNY should be allowed to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to recognize variation in costs and maximize revenue.
State leaders should reverse the trend of reducing the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to ensure that higher and differential tuition does not limit affordability for needy students.
The state should grant greater regulatory freedom for New York's entire system of public higher education, extending the autonomy currently considered for SUNY at Buffalo to every campus.
Key Data
$7,605
— The national average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students at four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$5,790
— The average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students at New York's four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$12,870
— SUNY's out-of-state undergraduate tuition in 2009-10.
$8,500
— The amount by which SUNY's out-of-state undergraduate tuition was less than the average out-of-state tuition at 29 comparable state universities.
$5,000 to $4,000
— The reduction in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for students in two-year colleges enacted in the last two budgets.
$1,252
— The 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 requires greater autonomy over tuition policies and physical assets to move away from erratic, legislature-controlled pricing that often diverts revenue from educational quality. To ensure continued access for low-income students, the state must reverse recent cuts to the Tuition Assistance Program while implementing a more rational, differential tuition structure across campuses.
Recommendations related to State University of New York (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.
It is desirable to allow SUNY and CUNY to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to recognize variation in costs and demand.
The trend of reducing financial aid should be reversed to implement the policy changes necessary for a more rational system of funding public higher education in New York.
Key Data
$40 million
— The amount of CUNY tuition revenue the Legislature refused to appropriate in the 2011 budget cycle.
$5,790
— The average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students charged by New York's four-year public colleges and universities in 2010-11.
$1,252
— The amount by which New York's in-state tuition and fees at community colleges exceeded the national average in 2010-11.
New York's public university systems are currently constrained by legislative control over tuition, which leads to unpredictable, politically driven rate hikes rather than stable funding. Passing the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act would grant these institutions the authority to set their own tuition rates and implement differential pricing, ensuring more consistent revenue and educational quality.
Recommendations related to State University of New York (SUNY)
The Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act should be separated from budget negotiations and passed immediately.
The state should allow SUNY and CUNY to set their own tuition rates, eliminating the requirement that the Legislature appropriate the funds.
The state should allow SUNY and CUNY to set differential tuition among campuses and programs to recognize variations in costs and market demand.
New York should address concerns about accessibility for low-income students through financial aid to mitigate the impact of higher tuition.
Key Data
$5,761
— 2009-10 average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students charged by New York's four-year public colleges and universities.
$7,020
— National average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students in 2009-10.
18 percent
— Amount by which New York's average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students was below the national average in 2009-10.
$12,870
— 2009-10 out-of-state undergraduate tuition at New York's public universities.
40 percent
— Amount by which out-of-state undergraduate tuition in 2009-10 was less than that at 29 comparable state universities.
$500
— Proposed annual cap on tuition increases for SUNY and CUNY.
New York's public higher education system faces erratic tuition increases due to its reliance on the state budget process, which creates instability for students. Implementing reforms to allow universities to set their own tuition rates and control revenue, while simultaneously protecting and expanding financial aid, would create a more rational and predictable funding model.
Recommendations related to State University of New York (SUNY)
The state should remove tuition revenue from the legislative appropriation process to allow universities to directly control their own funds.
Legislators should allow SUNY and CUNY to set their own tuition rates subject to an annual cap based on the Higher Education Price Index.
The system should implement differential tuition among campuses and programs to better reflect varying operational costs and market demand.
The Legislature should reject the proposed cuts in financial aid to ensure that tuition increases do not limit access for low-income students.
Policymakers should expand the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and lift the grant ceiling to mitigate the impact of higher tuition on affordability.
Key Data
$13.5 billion
— The total size of the New York State public higher education system.
$2.7 billion
— The amount of tuition collected annually by CUNY and SUNY.
$5,761
— The average tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students at New York's four-year public colleges in 2009-10.
$7,020
— The national average tuition and fees for four-year public colleges in 2009-10.
$827 million
— The total amount of grants awarded 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.
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