With 301 first-year students enrolling for the 2025-26 academic year, Keuka College has welcomed its largest incoming class in seven years.
Those new students are joined by more than 230 new transfer, online, and graduate students, each bringing their own story, ambition, and goals.
“Every student’s journey is different, and our team meets them with empathy, insight, and a genuine desire to help. This class is a testament to the meaningful work our faculty and staff do every day.”
The growing enrollment comes during a period when many colleges across New York and the nation continue to face declining class sizes. Personalized recruitment, the College’s small size and lakeside setting, and hands-on educational opportunities helped draw student interest.
“Location was a huge factor in why I chose Keuka College – the lakeside campus is absolutely gorgeous,” said second-year student Fiona Duffy, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major from Washingtonville, N.Y. “Another reason was the small student body and class size. It means a closer-knit sort of family of people around you, which is really appealing.”
Nursing and Education remain the most popular programs at the College, with steady interest in Criminal Justice, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Management. More than 20% of first-year students arrived with at least 27 college credits earned through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment, while nearly two-thirds entered with some earned credit from high school.
The enrollment gains come alongside other recent notable milestones. Among them, Keuka College:
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Welcomed its largest Nurse Practitioner cohort since before the pandemic, reflecting a recognition of the ongoing regional demand for highly trained healthcare providers.
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Launched a new Master of Science in Leadership program designed to meet the growing need for professionals prepared to lead in today’s rapidly changing workplaces.
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Introduced a new pathway program called Exploratory: Health, aimed at students who want to pursue Nursing or Occupational Therapy but did not complete advanced math or science courses in high school. The initiative is intended to provide additional preparation so students can transition into those majors.
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Is completing the final phase of a multi-year renovation of its residence halls and has upgraded classroom technology, particularly in math and science spaces. Administrators emphasize that these projects were undertaken without accruing additional debt.
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Recently closed the books on its seventh successive fiscal year with a budget surplus – a reflection of its strong financial standing.
College President Amy Storey said that fiscal stability enables the College to focus on its commitment to ensuring that every new student feels supported and prepared to thrive.
“We don’t measure our success just by how many students choose Keuka College, but, more importantly, by how well they do once they get here. Their success, well-being, and future are the reasons we exist, and this new class inspires us to do everything we can to ensure that they excel.”
