The State University of New York reported a 2.9% enrollment increase for fall 2025 — the system’s third consecutive year of growth after a decade-long slide. Headcount reached 387,363, with first-time undergraduates up 3.1% and community college enrollment rising 5%. SUNY officials credited state initiatives such as the Reconnect program and direct-admit policies for part of the gains. Despite the improvement—up 6.5% since 2022—SUNY remains below Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 500,000-student target and leaders caution that sustaining growth will require continued policy support and targeted recruitment. Community colleges produced outsized growth, signaling renewed interest in reskilling and local access to higher education. Higher‑education leaders elsewhere should watch SUNY’s mix of tuition, outreach and admission policy levers as a model for reversing enrollment declines, while financial officers assess long‑term sustainability if growth slows.