Central New York Higher Education

The Central Upstate New York region is home to 35 state and private colleges and universities with a combined enrollment of more than 130,000 students. The region's 20 four-year colleges and universities had more than 100,000 students enrolled in 2002, about 20% of whom were enrolled in graduate programs. These students represent a significant talent pool in the region. As a result of the large number of institutions of higher education located in Upstate New York, a larger percentage of Central Upstate New York's workforce is in educational services.

Central Upstate New York also has 30 community colleges offering two-year associates degree's and certificate and non-certificate programs that operate as part of the SUNY system. Community College graduates receive training that prepares them for entry-level jobs or to transfer to a four-year degree program. Business leaders report that the Central Upstate New York region has an available supply of well-trained, hard-working employees with a strong work ethic. Census data support the fact that the population is more educated than the nation as a whole.

The region is also home to five research universities including Clarkson, Cornell, SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), SUNY Upstate Medical University, as well as Rome Research Site (a national laboratory formerly known as Rome Lab) that are all committed to expanding their research bases and developing research excellence. Central Upstate New York's five largest research universities receive more than $600 million in research and development funding per year and have the capacity to attract more. New York State has promised $35 million to support capital construction on the ESF and Upstate campuses for the proposed Central New York Biotechnology Center and SU will be constructing a facility to house the Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems. Central Upstate New York is fortunate in that its universities continue to invest in new facilities that will enable them to attract and house additional researchers and more faculty.

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