SUNY New Paltz Welcomes Class of 2004

NEW PALTZ — On Wednesday, August 23, SUNY New Paltz will welcome its newest campus community members — the Class of 2004!

What does the Class of 2004 look like?

• This year’s freshman class includes 1,031 students. Below is a “class portrait”:
• Mean high school grade point average approaching 90 percent
• Mean composite SAT in excess of 1100
• Half in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class
• New York State Women in Science Award winners
• 33 percent transferring college credits earned while in high school
• 10 percent with overseas study during high school
• 0 percent high school varsity sports team captains

Joining the incoming freshmen are 742 transfer students coming from various colleges and universities, with a mean grade point average of 3.2.

While the vast majority of freshmen and transfer students are New York residents, the incoming students also represent California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and 43 countries. Eleven students will begin their freshman year at New Paltz studying at Kingston University in London.

Demographic shift in student body

Overall enrollment at New Paltz this year is projected to be about 7,850, which is consistent with historical enrollment figures.

“Although overall enrollment numbers remain relatively unchanged, the composition of the student body has continued to shift. The number of full-time and undergraduate and graduate students has grown, while the number of part-time students has declined rather sharply,” says David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management at the university.

This demographic shift places a greater demand on campus housing, since all freshmen and a growing number of full-time upperclassmen live on campus.

SUNY New Paltz is “highly selective”

For the past nine years, New Paltz has had more applications than any other SUNY university college. With nearly 10 applicants for every seat in the freshman class, the university has been compelled to apply very competitive admissions standards, resulting in a freshman class comprised of students with track records of academic achievement. Further evidence of New Paltz’s desirability is the growing volume of applications which led the university to initiate early cut-off dates for freshman applications for the second consecutive year.

Time/The Princeton Review-College Guide 2000, the nation’s premier college guide, has listed New Paltz as “highly selective,” along with three other SUNY schools: Binghamton, Geneseo and Stony Brook. Additionally, New Paltz was named among the nation’s 500 best colleges and universities. SUNY New Paltz was also listed in the US News and World Reports-College Guide 2000 among the top 75 colleges and universities in the North. These accolades are predominantly driven by the quality of the entering class of students and their outstanding academic records.

The fall 2000 semester begins on Monday, August 28. Freshmen will arrive on campus August 23, and the remaining students will begin arriving August 24.

Note: Enrollment figures are current as of August 19. Final enrollment figures will be determined on October 8.