President Jonathan Gibralter | Wells College
President Jonathan Gibralter | Wells College
Of the three institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Wells College and Cayuga Onondaga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program.
At least 1,544 people applied to Cayuga County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 3,865 students enrolled in the universities, all of them in undergraduate programs. Only 3.5% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (74.1%) and students of unknown ethinicity (12.2%).
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Cayuga County Community College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 3,479 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cayuga County Community College | -- | -- | 3,479 |
| Wells College | 1,534 | 1,350 | 357 |
| Cayuga Onondaga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program | 10 | 3 | 29 |
Alerts Sign-up