SYRACUSE, N.Y. – College acceptance rates at several Central New York institutions have climbed in recent years, giving high school seniors more opportunities as they prepare to commit to a school ahead of College Decision Day on May 1.
Schools across the region report relatively high admission rates compared with more selective universities nationwide. At Syracuse University, the acceptance rate is about 42%, while nearby public institutions such as SUNY Oswego and SUNY Geneseo report acceptance rates above 60%, according to admissions data from the universities.
Over the last 5 years, SU’s acceptance rate has landed between 44% and 50%, according to the university’s admissions website.
Higher acceptance rates can reflect several factors, including shifting enrollment trends and schools encouraging more applicants in order to maintain class sizes. Many colleges nationwide have also expanded programs and recruitment efforts in recent years as competition for students increases.
For students going through the process, the months leading up to Decision Day can still feel overwhelming despite having more options.
Ben Clements, now a freshman at Syracuse University, said the process during his senior year of high school was filled with uncertainty.
TRANSCRIPT:
LUCIANO CALVOSA: As College Decision Day on May 1st approaches, students across Central New York are taking bold steps towards their futures, choosing where they will spend the next four years.
BEN CLEMENTS: I would say it was a stressful time because I was waiting to hear back from my top schools. You know, by the time 2025 came around, I had decided that Syracuse was my top option.
CALVOSA: Ben Clemens, a freshman at Syracuse University, remembers how, as a high school senior, he felt the pressure of finding a place to truly call home. And last year, acceptance rates in Central New York rose by 10 percent. With many rapid changes within the Central New York community, with seniors like Ahmad Mahdi reflecting on how the college acceptance rates continuing to rise with no ceiling.
AMAAN MAHDI: I don’t think it’s going to stop anytime soon. Everything’s going up. We’re all overwhelmed with the process of just seeing the name of the school without even focusing on what really matters, which is campus life, programs.
CALVOSA: Factors like choosing the right academic program, finding a campus with the ideal environment, and aligning with personal goals all play a huge role in today’s rising acceptance rates.
MAHDI: would say write down what you want out of your school, out of your education, whether it’s campus life, program, you want to work, work, work, you want to have fun, or you want to mix. Then after that, go and research specific colleges that have that.
CLEMENTS: You know, I think it’s about not narrowing in on one option. You’ve got to be realistic, you’ve got to understand that you might not get into the school that you want to go to, so it’s about finding other options that could work.
CALVOSA: In Syracuse, Luciano Calvosa, NCC News.
“It was a stressful time because I was waiting to hear back from my top schools,” Clements said. “By the time 2025 came around, I had decided that Syracuse was my top option.”
Admissions trends have also shifted over the past decade as colleges adapt to changing applicant pools. Many universities have adopted test-optional policies, expanded online outreach and increased financial aid offerings to attract more students.
Still, more options can also bring added pressure. Ahmad Mahdi, a senior at Syracuse University, said looking back on his own college search helped him realize that students often focus too much on a school’s name recognition.
“Everything’s going up,” Mahdi said. “We’re all overwhelmed with the process of just seeing the name of the school without even focusing on what really matters, which is campus life, programs.”
With Decision Day approaching, students across Central New York are weighing factors such as academic programs, campus life and financial aid as they prepare to take the next step in their education.
“We try to look at all the variables,” said Eric Johnson, a local parent. “I want to give my child all the best options available while dealing with all of the stress and anxiety this process brings.”