Susan L. Parish, President | Mercy College
Susan L. Parish, President | Mercy College
Of the 19 institutions in the county, seven provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Manhattanville College, The College of Westchester and SUNY at Purchase College.
At least 28,854 people applied to Westchester County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 30,047 students enrolled in the universities, including 25,963 in undergraduate and 4,084 in graduate programs. In total 5.7% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of Hispanic (37.6%) and white (32.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, SUNY Westchester Community College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 8,807 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for three institutions in Westchester County, including New York Medical College, Saint Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary and Bard College - Taconic Correctional Facility.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochran School of Nursing | -- | -- | 115 |
| Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants | -- | -- | 95 |
| Westchester School of Beauty Culture | -- | -- | 66 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | 5,747 | 4,310 | 3,182 |
| Mercy University | 7,891 | 6,786 | 8,615 |
| Iona University | 6,228 | 5,979 | 3,621 |
| Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary | -- | -- | 187 |
| Empire Beauty School-Peekskill | -- | -- | 40 |
| Ohr Hameir Theological Seminary | 2 | 2 | 101 |
| SUNY Westchester Community College | -- | -- | 8,807 |
| New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa | -- | -- | 149 |
| Sarah Lawrence College | 5,186 | 2,593 | 1,696 |
| The College of Westchester | 462 | 439 | 828 |
| Center for Ultrasound Research & Education | -- | -- | 210 |
| New York Medical College | -- | -- | -- |
| Manhattanville College | 3,338 | 2,804 | 2,240 |
| Saint Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary | -- | -- | -- |
| Montefiore School of Nursing | -- | -- | 95 |
| Bard College - Taconic Correctional Facility | -- | -- | -- |
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