Quick Facts

 

  • Developing Human Capital

    New York's private colleges and universities educate more than 460,000 students a year, including 300,000 New Yorkers. In addition to its liberal arts colleges, research universities, and leaders in women's education, the sector has 15 private engineering schools and programs, eight private medical schools, 13 law schools, and two dental colleges. Independent colleges and universities award most bachelor's (57%), master's (72%) and doctoral and first professional degrees (81%) earned in the state.


  • Providing Access and Diversity

    One in three (33%) New Yorkers enrolled full time at independent colleges and universities comes from a family earning less than $40,000 annually. Most (53%) African-American and Hispanic students who earn their bachelor's and graduate degrees in New York State are Independent Sector alumni.



  • Maximizing the Higher Education Dollar

    New York State currently devotes seven percent of its budget to higher education. Of the $3.6 billion that New York spends on higher education annually, 11 percent ($400 million) goes to students and colleges in the Independent Sector. Independent colleges and universities provide $6.73 in college-funded financial aid for every $1 of state and student assistance.



  • Drawing Students to New York State

    New York is home to more independent colleges and universities than any other state or nation, and independent higher education continues to be a magnet for drawing young people to the state. More than four in five students (85%) from other states enroll at one of New York's private colleges or universities, drawn by the sector's impressive array of academic programs, college environments, social diversity, and financial aid awards.



  • Powering the State's Economy

    Independent colleges and universities contribute $41.4 billion to the New York State economy annually. Campuses spend $20.8 billion, while college employees and businesses that provide goods and services to the institutions account for $20.6 billion in spending each year.



  • Providing Jobs for New Yorkers

    New York's independent colleges and universities directly employ more than 158,000 people. The Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program is expected to create approximately 6,800 jobs in the construction and related service industries.



  • Pioneers in Research

    New York's independent universities received approximately $1.3 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants in FY 2005 and in 2003 higher education institutions attracted nearly half (46%) of Research and Development funds that came into New York State (approximately $1.8 billion). Also, seven of the New York Independent Sector universities ranked in the top 50 Research Medical Schools according to a 2007 U.S. News World Report.



  • Caring Campuses

    Campus Contact, a national organization committed to community involvement, estimates that the value of student service is $4.45 billion annually. In addition, data collected by the Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau show that of those individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher, four in ten (43%) had volunteered in 2006, while among those with a high school diploma half as many (20%) reported volunteering.