SUNY Orange has seen its spring enrollment on the rise three years in a row, hitting north of 3,800 students in 2025, according to a Feb. 16 statement from the community college.
Last spring, the college registered just under 3,600 students. This number does not include students taking noncredit work development courses or dual-enrolled high schoolers.
It marks the ninth consecutive academic session at the college with enrollment growth after a major decline during the COVID-19 years.
Among the 30 or so community colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, SUNY Orange was ranked third in post-pandemic enrollment recovery, according to data published by SUNY last fall.
“What a tremendous accomplishment for the college, and one that we are doing our best to continue for a long time,” SUNY Orange President Kristine Young said in a statement, “I applaud the efforts of our faculty members in the classrooms and our support staff.”
According to the college, the spring enrollment bump has largely been driven by a surge in part-time students. Minority and adult student populations also saw modest increases.
The college’s efforts to re-engage former students who had dropped before graduation also yielded a nearly 16-percent increase in returning students this spring.
Though charting a steady recovery trend, the college’s spring enrollment still falls short of years prior to the pandemic, according to the college.
Before the steep plunge during the pandemic years, community college enrollments across New York state had been declining slowly for years, according to SUNY data.
SUNY Orange offers close to 40 degrees and certificate programs across two campuses in Middletown and Newburgh. Most students hail from Orange County and surrounding areas.
The college recently awarded associate’s degrees and academic certificates to 139 students who completed their studies during the past fall semester. Among the graduates, 124 reside in Orange County.
Eleven graduates are from nearby counties of Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Rockland, and Westchester. Four are from Pennsylvania and California.
SUNY Orange is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with three signature events between May 16 and 18, including a reunion at the Middletown campus, a formal gala at the West Hills Country Club, and an anniversary breakfast with tours on the Newburgh campus.
Since its inception in June 1950, the college has been supported by three major financial pillars: county money, state aid, and student tuition. Private donations have also helped.
