On October 24, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that high school students who rank in the top 10% of their class will automatically be admitted to one of the nine campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY). This initiative, named the “Top 10% Promise Program,” will start this application season with public schools in New York City and several other districts, eventually expanding to the entire state.

The “Top 10% Promise” is part of a broader effort by state and city officials to reduce barriers to college admission, while also promoting diversity in higher education and retaining local talent. The nine SUNY campuses involved include SUNY Albany, SUNY Stony Brook, and SUNY Buffalo. Notably, SUNY Binghamton, often ranked among New York’s top public universities, is not included in this automatic admission program.

To qualify for automatic admission, students must not only be in the top 10% of their class but also must graduate with either an Advanced Regents diploma or an International Baccalaureate diploma, or achieve certain scores on the SAT, ACT, or Advanced Placement exams. The SUNY system will notify qualifying high school seniors this fall. However, while students will be guaranteed admission, they won’t have the option to choose which campus to attend, though they can decide whether or not to enroll.

John King, the state’s education commissioner, noted that this automatic admission program is expected to benefit low-income students with strong academic records the most, as it completely removes application barriers. Additionally, students attending public universities in New York are eligible for the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which can provide up to $5,665 annually.

However, not everyone is on board with this initiative. Parent and PLACE NYC founder Julia Ting expressed concerns about the fairness of the program, fearing it could lower the educational standards of SUNY. She pointed out that the academic performance among public schools in New York City varies significantly, with the top 10% of students in regular schools performing very differently from those in specialized high schools. Additionally, she highlighted that a large majority of the high-achieving students in these specialized schools are Asian American, raising concerns about equity and access.