“The 2027 New York State budget stands as a powerful affirmation of the commitment to affordability that is shared by Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Cousins, Assembly Speaker Heastie, State Senator Stavisky, Assemblywoman Hyndman, and the entire New York State Legislature. This commitment extends to CUNY as New York’s great engine of opportunity and upward mobility.
“Underlying this commitment is our unique ability to provide a high-quality education at a cost that allows 72% of in-state undergraduate students to attend tuition-free and 77% to graduate debt-free. With support for operating aid at senior colleges and continuation of the community college funding floor at 100% of last year’s level, the budget solidifies CUNY’s value proposition and our capacity to support students, faculty, and staff.
“Since Fall 2022, enrollment has grown by nine percent with nearly 21,000 additional students. This budget maintains that momentum by expanding proven programs and embracing bold new ones.
“CUNY is proud to play a role in the Governor’s ambitious childcare plan. Efforts to bolster our early childhood programs will reinforce the University’s role as a pipeline for qualified educators. CUNY enrolls more than 3,600 early childhood education students in 50 programs across 13 colleges.
“Recognizing that access to education is important no matter your age, expansion of the Governor’s Reconnect program, which provides free community college for adult learners in high-demand fields, will allow us to reach even more students, including former foster youth. In its first year, Reconnect enrolled over 12,000 eligible students statewide.
“We’re particularly grateful for the state’s commitment through Governor Hochul’s Career Connect Initiative to CUNY Beyond, our ambitious initiative to ensure that every student is prepared for success after college. This funding will help triple student participation in paid internships, increase employer recruitment on our campuses, and generate an estimated $3 billion in future wage growth — yielding a $700 million return on public investment.
“The allocation of $600 million for critical maintenance and capital projects will underwrite our efforts to modernize classrooms and laboratories, improve energy efficiency across our 26 campuses, and bring the majority of our buildings into a state of good repair.
“The enacted 2027 budget is more than a collection of numbers; it is a value statement. Once again, the Governor and Legislature have demonstrated the high value they place in public higher education. We thank them for their support and look forward to realizing our shared belief in New York as a beacon of upward mobility.”
By Félix V. Matos Rodríguez
