Hochul directs SUNY, CUNY to absorb students displaced by Howard University

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that both the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) will offer expedited late-admissions reviews for affected New York residents. Participating campuses will pull from remaining Fall 2026 seats without displacing other incoming students, according to state officials.

The emergency action follows Howard’s announcement last Friday that it canceled admission for 502 first-year students who failed to meet financial and administrative deadlines. While the Washington, D.C., historically Black university said it had warned students about requirements since March, the sudden drop left hundreds searching for last-minute alternatives. The university has since reinstated 46 students.

“Hundreds of students, including New Yorkers, are scrambling and scared,” Hochul said in a statement Tuesday, assuring families that public colleges in New York are ready to absorb affected students.

Participating SUNY schools offering fast-tracked reviews include flagship centers at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, along with Buffalo State, New Paltz, and Oneonta. Additional SUNY and CUNY campuses are evaluating remaining capacity.

“CUNY’s mission is to expand access to higher education for all students, not restrict it based on financial means,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “To these students currently facing uncertainty and left in academic limbo: our doors are open, our admissions are expedited, and your dream of a college degree remains well within reach.”

Affected students seeking admission options can find guidance through SUNY (suny.edu/howard) or CUNY (cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate).

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