Will New York State’s College Gambit Work?

During her 2024 State of the State address, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul trumpeted the idea of granting high school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class automatic admission to top State University of New York (SUNY) schools. Weeks later, questions remain on how and when this initiative would be implemented, if it could include merit-based aid, and whether it is realistic, ethical, and legal. The Democratic governor’s proposal comes at a time when enrollment at most SUNY campuses decreased sharply in the past decade despite the onset of the Excelsior scholarship program for low- and middle-income families. Moreover, several public campuses across the state—Fredonia, Potsdam, Buffalo State, and Clinton Community College—are facing deep budget cuts. In addition, competition between public and private higher education in the Empire State remains fierce, with enrollment numbers almost evenly split....