Dr. Amy Kremenek Manor College President | Tompkins Cortland Community College
Dr. Amy Kremenek Manor College President | Tompkins Cortland Community College
Of the three institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Ithaca College and Cornell University.
At least 81,641 people applied to Tompkins County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 35,394 students enrolled in the universities, including 24,796 in undergraduate and 10,598 in graduate programs. Only 2.6% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (47.4%) and Asian (15.7%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Cornell University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 25,898 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins Cortland Community College | -- | -- | 4,442 |
| Ithaca College | 12,446 | 9,335 | 5,054 |
| Cornell University | 69,195 | 4,844 | 25,898 |
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