The numbers are down
If you're a student at CUNY, you might have noticed things feeling a bit different lately. The latest Mayor’s Management Report just dropped some sobering stats, and frankly, the vibes are off. Graduation rates across the system have been sliding for five years, and it's giving us a lot to think about.
At CUNY’s community colleges, graduation rates for associate degrees dipped from 38.9% in 2022 to 35.5% this year. The situation at four-year colleges isn't much better, dropping from 62% to 55.6% in the same timeframe. Even the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)—the gold standard for extra support—saw a nearly 22% decline.
Why is this happening?
Former CUNY trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld thinks it's a "two-pronged problem," pointing to a drop in standards within NYC public schools and a potential relaxation of CUNY’s own academic requirements.
Meanwhile, CUNY is blaming the lingering fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the freshman class makeup. A university spokesperson pushed back, noting that graduation rates are still technically higher than they were a decade ago and that retention rates are actually climbing for newer classes.
Are there any W's?
It’s not all bad news. CUNY is still being recognized for social mobility and affordability, with six of its schools landing in the Washington Monthly's top 40 in the Northeast. Plus, enrollment is actually up—total numbers jumped by 4% to over 246,000 students this year, which shows people are still flocking to the system. The school is also trying to fix the gaps by increasing academic advising and making it easier to transfer credits.
Why it matters
If you're currently enrolled, the dip in full-time faculty—which dropped to under 40% at four-year colleges—means you're more likely to be taught by adjuncts than before. Real talk: school is an investment, so keep pushing for those resources and make sure you're utilizing every bit of advising they offer. Your degree is the endgame, no cap.
