Top 10% High School Students to Receive SUNY Bid

On Oct. 24, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Top 10% Promise Program, a state initiative that will give New York high school students who graduate in the top 10% of their class automatic acceptance to a select number of SUNY colleges and universities, SUNY New Paltz being one of them. 

The direct-admissions program will first be tested during the 2025–26 academic year for a multiregional selection of New York high schoolers, with the ultimate goal of expanding eligibility to all New York State high schools.

“There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and the SUNY Top 10% Promise will make it even easier for our highest-achieving high school students – particularly those from low-income backgrounds – to discover SUNY’s extraordinary value and academic excellence,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. 

SUNY New Paltz, University at Albany, University at Buffalo, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Purchase College and Stony Brook University are the first nine colleges to participate in the initiative, with more to follow as the program continues to roll out. 

Due to the SUNY Top 10% Promise being a new concept for the state, the potential effects on enrollment numbers can’t be concluded, but other states with similar programs like Texas and California have shown positive results. In California, their program has resulted in increased enrollment for underrepresented students as well as increased graduation rates and post-graduation earnings. 

SUNY New Paltz Executive Director of Admissions Andrew Mantell believes the school is as prepared as it can be for the future. In addition to regular discussions with other departments also nested in the school’s Office of Enrollment Management, Undergraduate Admissions communicates with Residence Life and Student Affairs about admissions throughout the whole year so there are as few surprises as possible. 

“If we need to expand events [or] make additional registration nights for these students to accommodate them, [we can do so],” Mantell said. “I think it’s something we do pretty well internally, and that way everybody understands what’s coming.”

Mantell also believes that the program could benefit SUNY New Paltz’s exposure in the state school system with it being one of the nine originally selected schools. “Maybe there are some school districts that weren’t as familiar with us, or students that weren’t on our radar, but because they qualify for this Top 10%, when they see we’re one of their choices, [they may say], ‘Hey, we’re a good fit.’”

The SUNY Top 10% Promise is just one of Hochul’s many recent efforts to make New York State colleges more accessible and affordable for all. Some other recent developments she has been involved with are the recent expansion of eligibility for New York’s Tuition Assistance Program and a collaboration between all SUNY and CUNY schools and over 50 state private colleges to offer free college application opportunities to high school seniors beginning in late October.