Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to New Paltz

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Jean Hasbrouck HouseJean Hasbrouck House · Photo: The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near New Paltz

New Paltz is a college town: 35 of every 100 residents are students

No college sits inside New Paltz’s boundary, but State University of New York at New Paltz’s campus in New Paltz, with 7,050 students on campus, is 1.6 miles from the center of town, and Ulster County Community College is 6.4 miles away in Stone Ridge. Across New York, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town35% of residents are studentsState University of New York at New Paltz

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of New Paltz. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
26,637 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
SUNY New Paltz
Residents in college
35%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
6.4 mi
Ulster County · $6,666 tuition
Nearest public university
1.6 mi
SUNY New Paltz · $8,572 in-state
Median household income
$83K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from New Paltz

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town35 of every 100 New Paltz residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.A university 1.6 miles awayState University of New York at New Paltz has 7,050 students on campus in New Paltz, 72% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at SUNY New PaltzLiving in New York, State University of New York at New Paltz charges $8,572 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,822. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 6.4 miles awayUlster County Community College in Stone Ridge: tuition and fees $6,666 a year for New York residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in New Paltz

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

35 of every 100 New Paltz residents are in college (NY: 7).

2,509college students live in New Paltz households rather than dorms
25.7median age · NY 39.8
55%of residents are women · NY 51% (±2.7 points)
49%of homes rented · NY 46%
$1,616median rent · 0% below the state
Cost of living$1,616/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIA−HealthCDC estimatesA−Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change New Paltz’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 22.5% of New Paltz residents are below the poverty line, 12.2% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 10 points either way). 62% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (35% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health A−

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and New Paltz’s median age is 25.7 (New York 39.8), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety A−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of New Paltz

Three private colleges within 11.4 miles, one public college within 1.6 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSUNY New PaltzMarist UniversityDutchessNew Paltz
University or collegeCommunity college
State University of New York at New PaltzUniversity or college · Public · 7,050 on campus · 1.6 mi · New Paltz62%admitted$19knet price72%graduate$58kearningsUlster County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,717 on campus · 6.4 mi · Stone Ridge$5knet price34%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,666 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Culinary Institute of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,015 on campus · 8.2 mi · Hyde Park91%admitted$36knet price63%graduate$47kearningsMarist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,951 on campus · 8.5 mi · Poughkeepsie57%admitted$42knet price80%graduate$78kearningsDutchess Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,448 on campus · 9.9 mi · Poughkeepsie$10knet price30%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $5,670 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Vassar CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,456 on campus · 11.4 mi · Poughkeepsie19%admitted$39knet price91%graduate$71kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where New Paltz’s median household income ($83,133) falls.

Ulster County Community College6.4 mi · Stone Ridge · sticker $14,925 · tuition $6,666$11,780a year
Dutchess Community College9.9 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $17,159 · tuition $5,670$14,886a year
State University of New York at New Paltz1.6 mi · New Paltz · sticker $28,428$21,937a year
Vassar College11.4 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $87,419$25,773a year
Culinary Institute of America8.2 mi · Hyde Park · sticker $58,790$38,087a year
Marist University8.5 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $67,574$42,001a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of New Paltz: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →SUNY New PaltzUlster CountyCulinary Institute of AmericaMarist UniversityDutchessVassar College
State University of New York at New Paltz72% graduate$58k earnings$19k typical debt
Marist University80% graduate$78k earnings$25k typical debt
Dutchess Community College30% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Culinary Institute of America63% graduate$47k earnings$16k typical debt
Ulster County Community College34% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Vassar College91% graduate$71k earnings$19k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Questions about college near New Paltz

Is New Paltz a college town?

Yes. 35 of every 100 New Paltz residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across New York. The nearest campus, State University of New York at New Paltz, is 1.6 miles away in New Paltz.

What colleges are near New Paltz?

Within 15 miles: State University of New York at New Paltz (1.6 miles, 7,050 students on campus), Ulster County Community College (6.4 miles, 2,717), Culinary Institute of America (8.2 miles, 3,015), Marist University (8.5 miles, 5,951), Dutchess Community College (9.9 miles, 5,448) and Vassar College (11.4 miles, 2,456).

Why is New Paltz’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 22.5% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 12.2% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 10 points).

What is the closest community college to New Paltz, and what does it cost?

Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, 6.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,666 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $5,035, counts housing and food at full cost.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of New Paltz. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →