SUNY Announces $7.2M State Budget Investment in Stony Brook University to Affirm Affordable Excellence on Long Island

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees have announced the distribution of $54 million in new Direct State Tax Support in the FY 2027 Enacted New York State Budget to State-operated campuses - with $7.2 million allocated to Stony Brook University - affirming the affordability of an excellent education at SUNY.

The funding maintains the statewide resident undergraduate tuition freeze even as SUNY expands initiatives to support students on their path to a college degree and strengthens the role SUNY campuses play in driving research, innovation, and economic growth statewide.

The budget was enacted under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul with support from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie '90, and the entire State Legislature. In addition to other investments in campus operations and facilities, total Direct State Tax Support has risen by $445 million over the last four years, a time marked by gains in enrollment, rigorous academic experiences, and SUNY research excellence.

"SUNY campuses are engines of opportunity for students and communities across New York, and this year's state budget strengthens our ability to deliver on SUNY's mission of affordable excellence," King said. "Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, public higher education remains central to a strong and affordable New York. This state investment will help campuses support student success, increase access to high-quality academic programs, grow research and workforce partnerships, and ensure students graduate prepared to thrive in New York's economy and contribute to civic life."

"We are incredibly grateful for the support of Governor Hochul and New York's elected officials, which fuels the economic and educational engine of the State University of New York at Stony Brook," said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. "Thanks to this year's budget, we will elevate groundbreaking research and propel New York as a hub of innovation with $100 million to continue the development of the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook. We have ensured that our undergraduate students will continue to have access to an excellent and outstanding world-class education without increasing in-state tuition. Also with this budget support, we will continue to accelerate, expand and transform the compassionate healthcare we deliver to our communities. By securing Stony Brook University Hospital's financial foundation and advancing the Cancer Center's pursuit of a NCI designation, we are bringing excellent care to New Yorkers. We are thrilled that the new housing authority at our Southampton Campus will enable us to build housing for our dedicated healthcare staff while ensuring we attract and retain the very best talent to care for our patients."

Under the June 3 Board of Trustees resolution, SUNY will allocate the $54 million to its 29 state-operated campuses, which will be used primarily to replace revenue that would have been generated from a tuition increase. As part of this investment, every University Center will commit to investing in research growth and all other State-operated campuses will invest in additional student services and supports to help all students thrive academically and prepare for rewarding careers.

The SUNY Board of Trustees also affirmed that it will freeze broad-based resident undergraduate fees for the 2026-27 academic year. In addition, with the Governor's and State Legislature's support, SUNY will complete the multi-year process of eliminating fees for graduate student workers.

In the Long Island Region, SUNY has allocated:

• $7.2 million allocated to the State University of New York at Stony Brook; $81.23 million allocated since FY 2023
• $1.9 million allocated to SUNY Farmingdale State College; $13.11 million allocated since FY 2023
• $800,000 allocated to SUNY Old Westbury; $7.08 million allocated since FY 2023

The budget builds on three years of investment across the SUNY system, which made it possible for SUNY to allocate recurring funding to State-operated campuses to freeze resident undergraduate tuition and advance:

• General operating support to invest in student success and recruit and retain faculty and staff
• Cutting-edge research
• Paid internship opportunities for undergraduate students
• Student mental health services
• Services for students with disabilities
• Resources to address food insecurity

"Investments in our SUNY system are an investment into the futures of our young people. As prices rise on everything from gas and groceries to higher education, the Assembly Majority is committed to keeping our great SUNY schools within reach for New Yorks' students and families," said Heastie, a Stony Brook alumnus. "Maintaining the tuition freeze is vital to that mission. The enacted SFY 2026-27 budget ensures that both schools and students have the resources they need to succeed and thrive."

"A budget is a statement of priorities, and this investment in SUNY sends a clear message that expanding educational opportunity remains a core value in New York," added fellow alumnus and State Senator Monica Martinez '08. "With this continued investment in SUNY, including $9.9 million for Long Island's campuses, more New Yorkers will have access to a world-renowned education and the possibilities that come with it. I thank the governor for working with the Legislature to keep higher education within reach for students across our state."