State University of New York (SUNY Press Release)
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees today announced the distribution of $54 million in new Direct State Tax Support in the FY 2027 Enacted New York State Budget to State-operated campuses - with $10.6 million allocated to SUNY campuses in the Western New York Region - as they affirm the affordability of an excellent education at SUNY. The funding maintains the statewide resident undergraduate tuition freeze even as SUNY expands initiatives to support students on their path to a college degree and strengthens the role SUNY campuses play in driving research, innovation, and economic growth statewide.
The budget was enacted under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul with support from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and the entire State Legislature. Thanks to the Governor and legislative leadership, in addition to other investments in campus operations and facilities, total Direct State Tax Support has risen by $445 million over the last four years, a time marked by gains in enrollment, rigorous academic experiences, and SUNY research excellence.
“SUNY campuses are engines of opportunity for students and communities across New York, and this year’s state budget strengthens our ability to deliver on SUNY’s mission of affordable excellence,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, public higher education remains central to a strong and affordable New York. This state investment will help campuses support student success, increase access to high-quality academic programs, grow research and workforce partnerships, and ensure students graduate prepared to thrive in New York’s economy and contribute to civic life.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “This state budget represents a bold affirmation of SUNY’s pivotal role in New York’s future. With this investment, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature are reinforcing their commitment to academic excellence and are expanding the promise of opportunity for every New Yorker while prioritizing affordability. These new resources will fuel innovation, support cutting-edge research, and ensure SUNY remains a powerful engine of workforce development and economic mobility.”
Under today’s Board of Trustees resolution, SUNY will allocate the $54 million to its 29 State-operated campuses, which will be used primarily to replace revenue that would have been generated from a tuition increase. As part of this investment, every University Center will commit to investing in research growth and all other State-operated campuses will invest in additional student services and supports to help all students thrive academically and prepare for rewarding careers.
The SUNY Board of Trustees also affirmed that it will freeze broad-based resident undergraduate fees for the 2026-27 academic year. In addition, with the Governor’s and State Legislature’s support, SUNY will complete the multi-year process of eliminating fees for graduate student workers.
In the Western New York Region, SUNY has allocated:
- $8.5 million allocated to the State University of New York at Buffalo; $67.80 million allocated since FY 2023
- $700,000 allocated to Alfred State College; $4.52 million allocated since FY 2023
- $900,000 allocated to SUNY Buffalo State University; $11.64 million allocated since FY 2023
- $500,000 allocated to SUNY Fredonia; $5.96 million allocated since FY 2023
The budget builds on three years of investment across the SUNY system, which made it possible for SUNY to allocate recurring funding to State-operated campuses to freeze resident undergraduate tuition and advance:
- General operating support to invest in student success and recruit and retain faculty and staff
- Cutting-edge research
- Paid internship opportunities for undergraduate students
- Student mental health services
- Services for students with disabilities
- Resources to address food insecurity
Alfred State College President Steven Mauro said, “The enacted state budget is a strong affirmation of SUNY’s role in preparing students for success. Alfred State is proud to advance that mission through applied learning, workforce development, and programs that connect students directly to in-demand careers. We appreciate the leadership of Governor Hochul, the State Legislature, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Board of Trustees, and we look forward to continuing to deliver on SUNY’s promise of access, opportunity, and excellence for New Yorkers.”
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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, said, “Investments in our SUNY system are an investment into the futures of our young people. As prices rise on everything from gas and groceries to higher education, the Assembly Majority is committed to keeping our great SUNY schools within reach for New Yorks’ students and families. Maintaining the tuition freeze is vital to that mission. The enacted SFY 2026-27 budget ensures that both schools and students have the resources they need to succeed and thrive.”
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, “When I became Chair of the Higher Education Committee in 2019, I vowed to reverse the trend of a $200 increase in tuition every year. Since then, there's hasn't been tuition increases for New York students. The Legislature put $54 million into this year's budget to replace the revenue a tuition hike would have generated. In an affordability crisis, holding the line on tuition is one of the most powerful tools we have. I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Chancellor King, and Governor Hochul, for helping to make this a reality.”
State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, “A premier public university system must be defined not only by the caliber of its academics but by the accessibility of its institutions. By securing this critical investment to freeze resident tuition and broad-based fees - and by fulfilling our promise to eliminate fees for our dedicated graduate student workers - the Legislature is unequivocally prioritizing the future of New York’s students. We are dismantling financial barriers and ensuring that SUNY remains a powerful engine of upward mobility, allowing our scholars to focus on academic excellence and innovation rather than the anxiety of rising costs.”
State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “Higher education remains one of the most powerful tools for creating opportunity and economic mobility. For first-generation college students and students from historically underserved communities, institutions like the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University can open doors to lifelong success. I commend Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and my colleagues in the State Legislature for investing in SUNY and maintaining the tuition freeze for resident undergraduate students.”
State Senator Jeremy Zellner said, "Higher education remains one of the most powerful pathways to opportunity, and this investment reinforces our commitment to keeping a SUNY education affordable and accessible for students across Western New York. I fought hard alongside my colleagues in the Legislature to secure this funding, which will support student services, academic excellence, and research at the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University while maintaining the resident undergraduate tuition freeze. These investments strengthen our campuses, support our students, and drive innovation, workforce development, and economic growth across our region. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues for their partnership and commitment to SUNY and the students it serves.”
State Assemblymember Pat Burke said, “As someone who worked his way through SUNY Buffalo State to earn a degree, I know firsthand how important affordability is for students and families. Freezing tuition while continuing to invest in our campuses ensures more New Yorkers can pursue a college education and the opportunities that come with it without taking on additional financial burdens.”
State Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, “The FY 2027 budget makes a bold investment in higher education and ensures its affordability and accessibility for students across New York State. With $10.6 million directed to Western New York institutions, this move will strengthen student success, expand opportunities, and support the research and workforce development that drive our region. Ensuring our local colleges and universities are supported is vital in ensuring both WNY and NYS are destinations for higher education.”
State Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “A high-quality public education should be affordable and accessible to every New Yorker, regardless of their background or ZIP code. This investment in SUNY reflects our commitment to keeping tuition costs down while ensuring our campuses have the resources they need to support student success, drive groundbreaking research, and prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators. As a proud graduate of a SUNY institution, I know firsthand the opportunities our public higher education system creates. The additional support for the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State University, Alfred State College, and SUNY Fredonia will strengthen educational opportunities across Western New York while reinforcing SUNY's role as an engine of economic growth and workforce development.”