Every SUNY and CUNY school will require students to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to campus in the fall.

The decision announced Monday had been expected for weeks and will affect hundreds of thousands of students statewide.

The mandate comes as vaccination rates continue to drop across the state.

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It hinges on the FDA giving one of the three current COVID-19 vaccines its full approval.

Pfizer applied for that last Friday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo hopes this push will ensure campuses can open fully in just a few months.

Only a quarter of New Yorkers ages 16 to 25 are currently fully vaccinated - the lowest of any age group.

Cuomo is encouraging private colleges to also mandate the vaccine. Schools like Manhattanville, Pace and Sarah Lawrence already have.