CUNY SPS Reports Record Enrollment in 2021

In yet another sign of remarkable growth, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is reporting record high enrollment in 2021, with an increase of over 100% for its Winter Session and an increase of 10% for its Spring Semester, as compared to the same terms in 2020. 

These skyrocketing numbers stand out at a time when colleges around the country are struggling with historically low enrollment, and highlight the success of CUNY SPS’ efforts to provide flexible, affordable, and high-quality online academic offerings. 

“We are so excited to see that that this growth continuing, semester after semester. Our enrollment is a testament to our students’ perseverance and commitment to their education and the dedication of our faculty and staff who support them during the most challenging of times,” said Jennifer Grace Lee, associate dean of enrollment management and student services at CUNY SPS.

The 2021 Winter Session offers a snapshot of this enrollment trend. In 2021, 613 students started classes during the Winter Session, as compared to 311 the prior year, in an increase of more than 100%. According to data from the CUNY Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, this is the highest reported percentage increase for Winter Session enrollment of any CUNY school in 2021.

For students at CUNY SPS, Winter Session has always been a time to add more credits towards their degree. As Bonaparte Pierre, a BS in Health Services Administration student who has taken Winter Session courses noted, “The winter classes help me to get closer to my degree. … I hope to graduate by the end of the 2021 Spring Semester, and [it] would take longer without them.” Some students are even able to fully finish their education with their Winter Session credits. This year, the School reports that a total of six students are now able to graduate after successfully completing their Winter Session classes. 

But in 2021, student enrollment may also be driven by the desire to remain engaged during COVID-19. De Quency Bowen, a MS in Business Management and Leadership student who decided to take a statistics class this Winter Session, explained, “Amid this pandemic, I want to stay busy and productive, so as not become overwhelmed with all of the bad news, restrictions, and changes that we have all endured this past year.”

Following in the heels of the Winter Session, the 2021 Spring Semester also reports high enrollment. As of the start of the term, 4,141 students have enrolled for the Spring Semester, in an increase of 10% as compared to numbers from the same semester the year prior. 

This growing enrollment trend underscores the way that CUNY SPS’ top-rated online academic programs are being recognized by students and the higher education community at large for their tried-and-tested quality, value, and convenience. In the most recent accolades for the School, the U.S. News & World Report has ranked CUNY SPS to be #8 in the nation—or in the top 2%—on its list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2021.  

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

For nearly twenty years, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) has been leading online education in New York. Notable for offering the most online Bachelor’s and Master’s degree options at the City University of New York, and for serving transfer students as the University system’s only undergraduate all-transfer college, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who are looking to finish a bachelor’s degree, progress from an associate’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers.

The School’s growth has been remarkable, with twenty-four degrees launched since 2006. Enrollment has risen by more than 30% in the last four years to over 4,000 students in the credit-bearing programs and thousands more who are enrolled in non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs. In addition, the School has an active Alumni network and has established the CUNY SPS Foundation, which offers multiple scholarship opportunities to current students.

CUNY SPS has consistently been named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the country’s top online schools. Most recently, the School was ranked in the top 2% in the nation on the publisher’s list of the 2021 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, making CUNY SPS one of the highest nationally listed programs in New York State and the highest in New York City.

Press Contact
Andrea Fagon
Director of Marketing and Communications
andrea.fagon@cuny.edu