The University at Buffalo, the largest institution in the State University of New York system, saw enrollment rise by 2.4 percent in fall 2009, part of continued record growth.

Preliminary figures for the current semester were released Monday by SUNY, which again reported record enrollment of 464,981 students at its 64 campuses. That represents an increase of 25,458 students, or nearly 6 percent.

UB's student population for fall 2009 was placed at 28,881, up from 28,192 a year ago. That includes 24,101 full-time students, a gain of 293, or 1.2 percent.

Two of the other three research institutions - Albany and Binghamton - saw enrollment drop. Albany was down 1 percent to 18,018 while Binghamton declined 1.3 percent to 14,682. Stony Brook was biggest gainer among the four, adding 703 students, or 2.9 percent, to reach 24,694.

Among SUNY's Western New York campuses, Alfred Tech and Erie Community College had the largest percentage increases at 7.8 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively. Alfred Tech's enrollment rose to 3,531 from 3,276. ECC added 1,007 students, bringing enrollment to 14,710 from 13,703 at its three campuses.

Also, Buffalo State grew to 11,722 students from 11,234, up 4.3 percent, in the year-over-year comparison. It remains the largest of SUNY's 13 comprehensive colleges. Fredonia State College had an enrollment increase of 3.6 percent to 5,776 from 5,573. Brockport State was up 3.1 percent to 8,532 from 8,275 while Geneseo increased by 1.4 percent to 5,661 from 5,585.

SUNY noted the 30 community colleges continue to enroll more students, 242,742, than the four-year campuses, 222,239. Enrollments grew by 9.8 percent over the prior year at the community colleges.

Fourteen community colleges reported growth of more than 10 percent and all grew by at least 4 percent.