In 1945, with the G.I. Bill as a spur, veterans flooded the campus, dramatically changing the character of the university. Enrollments soared from 4,000 to 12,000 in 1945-46 alone, reaching 15,000 in 1948. In the College, enrollments rose from 1550 in 1946 to 2,300 in 1948. Overnight, Syracuse had become one of the largest universities in the country, and the College had become of the ten biggest business schools.

The College responded quickly and flexibly to the needs of the postwar economy. To ease the reentry of veterans into the workforce, two-year certificate programs, discontinued in the mid- 1920’s, were once again offered in several disciplines, including accounting, advertising, and business management.