Business Leads SUNY Enrollment, Health Follows
Students weighing SUNY programs will find the discipline mix varies widely from campus to campus across New York.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Higher Education
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A Newsday analysis of SUNY enrollment data found that business, management and public administration was the most popular discipline at SUNY schools statewide, with more than 50,000 students enrolled last school year. Health and related fields ranked second, and the figures are most useful for students weighing SUNY programs in New York.
Why it matters
For prospective students and families in New York, the discipline mix at SUNY campuses shows where large numbers of peers are concentrated, which can shape advising, class availability and career-planning conversations. The ranking reflects enrollment patterns from fall 2025, so it describes where students have been choosing to study rather than which programs will be easiest to get into.
Business, management and public administration drew more than 50,000 students statewide, while health and related fields had 49,037 and humanities had 42,402. On Long Island, humanities led with 13,399 students, and the University at Buffalo enrolled 4,694 students in health and related fields.
The players
State University of New York (SUNY)
New York's public university system of campuses across the state, offering a wide range of academic programs at affordable public tuition.
Newsday
A Long Island-based newspaper that conducted the analysis of SUNY enrollment by discipline.
University at Buffalo
A large SUNY research university in Buffalo, New York, with substantial business and health program enrollment.
Stony Brook University
A SUNY research university on Long Island with major enrollment in business, management and public administration.
The details
The enrollment totals come from SUNY Fast Facts, the system's official statistical resource, and the analysis uses fall 2025 figures, the most recent available. Newsday grouped students by academic discipline, which allows statewide rankings and campus-level comparisons, such as the University at Buffalo, Empire State University and Stony Brook University. Regional breakdowns show a different pattern on Long Island, where humanities enrollment is highest, so prospective students should look at the program mix of the specific campus they are considering.
Timeline
Fall 2025: most recent SUNY enrollment data used in the analysis
Last school year: students enrolled in SUNY discipline classes statewide
Education Landscape
Discipline choices at public university systems like SUNY are part of a broader pattern in which students weigh career outcomes alongside cost when selecting majors. Enrollment rankings like this one offer a snapshot of those choices across a large state system.
If you are comparing SUNY campuses, look at the enrollment mix in the programs you care about, not just the overall ranking. Ask the admissions office how many students are in your intended major and what advising and course availability look like there.
The takeaway
Business and health lead SUNY enrollment statewide, while humanities leads on Long Island, so the program mix can vary a great deal by campus. Before you decide, check the enrollment and course offerings of the specific SUNY school and ask its admissions office about the programs you are considering.
Further reading
For context on how colleges across the state are structured, explore our Higher Education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
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