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Colleges in and near New Paltz

New Paltz is a college town: 58 of every 100 residents are students

State University of New York at New Paltz (7,050 students on campus) is inside the village. Across New York, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town58% 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
0.6 mi
SUNY New Paltz
Residents in college
58%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
7.4 mi
Ulster County · $6,666 tuition
Nearest public university
0.6 mi
SUNY New Paltz · $8,572 in-state
Students on campus in New Paltz
7,050
next to 8,689 residents

What stands out about college in New Paltz

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

A college town58 of every 100 New Paltz residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.A university in New PaltzState 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 7.4 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.

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

7,050students on campus at State University of New York at New Paltz, next to 8,689 residents (dorm students count as residents)
1,996college students live in New Paltz households rather than dorms
21.5median age · NY 39.8
57%of residents are women · NY 51% (±5 points)
80%of homes rented · NY 46%
$1,672median rent · 3% above the state
Cost of living$1,672/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIHealthCDC estimatesA−Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundC+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 C+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 38.4% of New Paltz residents are below the poverty line, 18.5% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 26 points either way). 72% 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 (58% 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 21.5 (New York 39.8), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety

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 10.5 miles, one public college within 0.6 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 · In New Paltz62%admitted$19knet price72%graduate$58kearningsUlster County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,717 on campus · 7.4 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 · 7.6 mi · Hyde Park91%admitted$36knet price63%graduate$47kearningsMarist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,951 on campus · 7.7 mi · Poughkeepsie57%admitted$42knet price80%graduate$78kearningsDutchess Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,448 on campus · 9.2 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 · 10.5 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 $48–75k, where New Paltz’s median household income ($52,774) falls.

Ulster County Community College7.4 mi · Stone Ridge · sticker $14,925 · tuition $6,666$7,771a year
Dutchess Community College9.2 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $17,159 · tuition $5,670$11,586a year
Vassar College10.5 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $87,419$14,126a year
State University of New York at New PaltzIn New Paltz · sticker $28,428$20,178a year
Culinary Institute of America7.6 mi · Hyde Park · sticker $58,790$34,603a year
Marist University7.7 mi · Poughkeepsie · sticker $67,574$36,178a 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.

Majors

What students study in New Paltz

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at State University of New York at New Paltz, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Education 15%Business 12%Psychology 11%Communication 11%Social sciences 10%Visual & performing arts 10%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General174 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods150 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Sociology103 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas98 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication78 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies73 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Biology, General65 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, General64 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in New Paltz

Is New Paltz a college town?

Yes. 58 of every 100 New Paltz residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across New York. State University of New York at New Paltz has 7,050 students on campus, next to 8,689 residents.

What colleges are in New Paltz?

State University of New York at New Paltz is inside the village. Ulster County Community College is 7.4 miles away in Stone Ridge.

Why is New Paltz’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 38.4% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 18.5% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 26 points).

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

Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, 7.4 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.

How hard is it to get into State University of New York at New Paltz?

State University of New York at New Paltz admitted 62% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,170–1,340 on the SAT.

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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 →