By Nicholas Funk
The number of students transferring to the University at Albany has continued a three-year declining trend this academic year.
According to data from the Business Intelligence Unit of UAlbany, the number of students
coming from two-year community colleges, other colleges and universities was at 1,350 for the
2019-20 academic year; this is down from 1,395 in the 2018-2019 academic year and 1,455 in the 2017-18 academic year.
“Freshman enrollment goals and resulting enrollment have increased for several years; just this past year we were presented with an aggressive enrollment target and fell short,” said UAlbany assistant admissions counselor Jumana Chowdhury.
However, there were some positive signs regarding the university’s yield rates (the number of accepted students who enroll in the university), according to Chowdhury.
“Our transfer applications have dropped somewhat the past three years but yield rates have increased each of those years,” Chowdhury said.
She also explained that the issue of lower enrollment depends on larger factors that the school has no control over.
“There has been a steady decline in enrollment; however, this isn’t a New York State issue, it is part of a national pattern that corresponds to the economy,” she said.
The drop in transfer numbers could also correlate to a drop in enrollment at community colleges in New York State.
Enrollment at New York state community colleges has dropped 23% between 2010 and 2019 according to a Jan. 19 article published by the Times Union.
Nick Ryan, formerly of Columbia-Greene Community College, made the decision not to transfer to UAlbany due to the cost of tuition.
“Why should I go into debt to pay for college when I can start my career without any debt?” Ryan said.
Instead of transferring, he took a full-time job as a laborer with the hope of moving to New York City.
“I pondered getting a four-year degree but since I didn’t need it for my job, I decided against it,” said Mike Pozzi, formerly of Hudson Valley Community College.
Pozzi decided to work full time instead of attending the university and is currently in the process of becoming a police officer in Columbia County.