SUNY Oswego Direct Day access program attracts large turnout of potential local Lakers
Laura Donnelly (at left) of SUNY Oswego's English and Creative Writing Department was among the many Oswego representatives meeting with around 275 visitors from school districts in Oswego and Onondaga County during the university's recent Oswego Direct Day.
Around 275 high school students from Oswego and Onondaga counties came to SUNY Oswego on a warm fall day to look into streamlined possibilities of becoming a Laker during Oswego Direct Day on Nov. 4.
Beyond the large gathering, the Oswego Direct initiative offers increased access to college by reducing application steps, providing an application fee waiver, shortening the time between applying and receiving an admissions decision, and connecting eligible students with potential scholarship opportunities.
The second edition of the event saw a surge of new participating schools, nearly 20 in all, from across the counties and including the Syracuse City School District. Students learned more about SUNY Oswego – and college in general – while touring campus highlights, speaking with representatives of academic offerings and enjoying lunch in a dining hall.
“It was a really exciting day for all of us, and I loved seeing the enthusiasm in our future Lakers and the pride of the school districts who joined us,” said Kara Jones, assistant vice president of workforce innovation and external relations. “For many students, they might not even know that college is for them, or how much SUNY Oswego has to offer, until they visit our campus, so making those connections was wonderful.”
The expansion builds on promising enrollment results in Oswego County, where 110 first-year students enrolled at SUNY Oswego in fall 2026, the highest total in six years. Enrollment increased 30.8 percent over fall 2025, when 78 students enrolled, and is 25 above the county’s 2021–25 average.
The initiative earned a long-term commitment from Oswego County school districts. All nine districts signed five-year memorandums of agreement with SUNY Oswego this year, establishing sustained partnerships to connect local students with opportunities at their hometown university.
The university has since built on that foundation with new pilot partnerships involving school districts in Onondaga County and Syracuse. The goal is to extend the reach of Oswego Direct, reduce barriers to higher education and help more students across Central New York pursue a college degree.
“We have amazing partnerships with an increasing number of schools, all built with the shared goal of increasing access to higher education and greater opportunities across the region,” Jones added. “And beyond the amazing turnout of students who attended, Oswego Direct is still open for students in our partner districts in Oswego and Onondaga counties.”
By combining a more accessible admissions process with a hands-on campus experience, SUNY Oswego aims to help students and families see college as an attainable next step while strengthening connections between the university, local schools and regional communities.
For more information about SUNY Oswego Direct, visit oswego.edu/direct or contact SUNY Oswego Admissions at [email protected] or 315-312-2250.