SUNY System Schools

Many of New York’s public colleges and universities have “SUNY” in their names. These academic institutions are a part of the largest comprehensive university system in the US, which is attended by around 468,000 students.

SUNY stands for the State University of New York. It consists of 64 campuses categorized into the following: university centers, university colleges, technology colleges and community colleges.

Founded in 1948, SUNY now has almost 3 million alumni members all over the globe.

In this post, we will talk about 26 SUNY campuses — we will exclude SUNY academic medical centers, community colleges and statutory or contract colleges (schools operated by institutions on behalf of the state).

Here are the ones we will check out below:

• Alfred State College – SUNY
• Binghamton University – SUNY
• Buffalo State University – SUNY
• Empire State University – SUNY
• Farmingdale State College – SUNY
• Purchase College – SUNY
• Stony Brook University – SUNY
• SUNY Brockport
• SUNY Canton
• SUNY Cobleskill
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• SUNY Cortland
• SUNY Delhi
• SUNY Fredonia
• SUNY Geneseo
• SUNY Maritime College
• SUNY Morrisville
• SUNY New Paltz
• SUNY Old Westbury
• SUNY Oneonta
• SUNY Oswego
• SUNY Plattsburgh
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• SUNY Potsdam
• University at Albany – SUNY
• University at Buffalo – SUNY

So, without further ado, let’s look at the different SUNY schools you might want to consider adding to your college list, arranged from the hardest to get into to the easiest to get into.

Binghamton University – SUNY

• Location: Binghamton, New York
• Campus size: 930 acres
• Acceptance rate: 42%
• In-state tuition and fees: $10,363
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,203
• Graduation rate: 75%

US News ranks Binghamton University SUNY #73 in National Universities 2024 and #34 in Top Public Schools 2024. The popular college ranking site also highly ranks the following undergraduate programs of the institution:

• Business
• Computer science
• Economics
• Nursing
• Psychology

There are six schools that make up Binghamton, including Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, which is the largest. Students can choose from more than 130 academic offerings and resources.

Also available for them are 250 student clubs and organizations.

Stony Brook University – SUNY

• Location: Stony Brook, New York
• Campus size: 1,454 acres
• Acceptance rate: 49%
• In-state tuition and fees: $10,560
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $30,350
• Graduation rate: 65%

One of the things that Stony Brook – SUNY takes pride in is the fact that it has a diverse campus — around 58% of its entire population consists of underrepresented and minority students.

There are more than 200 majors available, and some of the most popular include:

• Psychology
• Biology
• Health service preparatory studies
• Computational and applied mathematics
• Business

According to Stony Brook itself, over 350 companies actively seek prospective employees on its campus, and almost 90% of its most recent graduates are either employed or attending graduate school.

SUNY New Paltz

• Location: New Paltz, New York
• Campus size: 257 acres
• Acceptance rate: 58%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,524
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,434
• Graduation rate: 56%

The average high school GPA of freshmen students admitted to SUNY New Paltz is 3.6.

Meanwhile, their SAT scores range from 1160 to 1340 and ACT scores range from 25 to 29. It’s worth pointing out that the school is test-optional, although those who are applying to accelerated medical programs must submit their test scores.

Over 6,960 students are attending New Paltz, around 87% of whom are undergraduates.

Students can choose from more than 200 clubs and organizations and 20 plus recognized fraternities and sororities. On the other hand, undergraduates can choose from almost 100 majors, some of the most popular of which are:

• Psychology
• Digital communication and multimedia
• Elementary education
• Sociology
• Business

SUNY Cortland

• Location: Cortland, New York
• Campus size: 191 acres
• Acceptance rate: 60%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,850
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,760
• Graduation rate: 55%

The average high school GPA of freshmen students admitted to SUNY Cortland is 3.4 — about 44% of them graduated in the top 25% of their class, while only 10% submitted their SAT scores during the application process.

Approximately 97% of its graduates are either working or attending graduate school.

Undergraduates attending Cortland can choose from 38 minors and 65 majors, some of the most popular are:

• Elementary education
• Physical education and teaching
• Sports and fitness management
• Managerial economics
• Psychology

The institution has 25 varsity teams, 23 national championships and 96 individual titles. As such, the SUNY school is ranked by Niche #30 in Best Colleges for Student Athletes in New York 2024.

Empire State University – SUNY

• Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
• Campus size: Varies
• Acceptance rate: 61%
• In-state tuition and fees: $7,630
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $17,540
• Graduation rate: 14%

Throughout the state of New York, there are more than 35 locations of Empire State University – SUNY where students can attend and choose from five academic terms, including eight- and 15-week sessions.

Undergrads have 500 online courses to select from, too.

It’s clear that Empire State caters to adult and non-traditional learners first and foremost, given that it has a generous credit transfer policy as well as provides opportunities for students to earn credit for relevant life or work experiences.

SUNY Brockport

• Location: Brockport, New York
• Campus size: 464 acres
• Acceptance rate: 68%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,698
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $15,768
• Graduation rate: 49%

There are eight fraternities and sororities at SUNY Brockport. Its small college-town campus is just a few miles away from the vibrant and diverse culture of Rochester, which is the fourth most populated city in New York.

As such, Niche ranks it #19 in Best Greek Life Colleges in New York 2024 and #34 Top Party Schools in New York 2024.

Brockport has 100 study-abroad programs in more than 30 countries on seven continents. The SUNY school also encourages its students to participate in major-based internships or experiential learning.

University at Albany – SUNY

• Location: Albany, New York
• Campus size: 610 acres
• Acceptance rate: 68%
• In-state tuition and fees: $10,408
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,998
• Graduation rate: 58%

Students with a bachelor’s degree attending the University at Albany – SUNY can choose from over 150 graduate programs. Meanwhile, its undergraduates can choose from over 50 majors, some of the most popular of which are:

• Biology
• Psychology
• Communications
• Economics
• Homeland security and disaster management

Freshmen students admitted to UAlbany have an average high school GPA of 3.8 — around 35% of them have a 4.0 GPA and about 19% of them graduated in the top 10% of their class.

Some of the very important criteria in the admissions process are the following:

• Rigor of secondary school record
• High school GPA
• Character

University at Buffalo – SUNY

• Location: Buffalo, New York
• Campus size: 1,350 acres
• Acceptance rate: 68%
• In-state tuition and fees: $10,781
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $30,571
• Graduation rate: 59%

One of the nicest things about the University at Buffalo – SUNY is that it allows its students to customize their chosen majors via thematic study, which is referred to by the public research university “clusters”.

UB itself says around one in every incoming freshman receives a merit scholarship.

Speaking of which, undergraduate students can choose from 140 plus majors, some of the most popular include:

• Business
• Psychology
• Communications
• Social science research methods
• Mechanical engineering

US News ranks UB #76 in National Universities 2024 and #36 in Top Public Schools 2024.

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

• Location: Syracuse, New York
• Campus size: 12 acres
• Acceptance rate: 70%
• In-state tuition and fees: $9,206
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,036
• Graduation rate: 68%

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has a special relationship with Syracuse University, which is a private institution ranked #67 in National Universities 2024 by US News.

ESF is not only adjacent to it but its students can also take selected courses in the said school.

There are more than 1,960 students attending ESF — of those, approximately 18% are from underrepresented and minority groups, while around 82% are undergraduates. Meanwhile, about 64% are enrolled full-time.

Here are the most popular of the 20 plus majors at ESF:

• Ecology and evolutionary biology
• Natural resources conservation and management
• Environmental science
• Environmental engineering
• Forestry

SUNY Plattsburgh

• Location: Plattsburgh, New York
• Campus size: 300 acres
• Acceptance rate: 70%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,950
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,860
• Graduation rate: 51%

Founded in 1889, SUNY Plattsburgh has more than 50,000 alumni members working in and outside the US.

Around 90% of its attendees are New York residents. Meanwhile, about 89% of them are pursuing undergraduate degrees, while a little more than 30% are underrepresented and minority students.

Plattsburgh has a rolling admissions policy and the average high school GPA of freshmen admits is 3.1.

Students can choose from 100 clubs and organizations as well as 16 active fraternities and sororities — Plattsburg is ranked by Niche #163 in Best Greek Life Colleges in America 2024 and #11 in Best Greek Life Colleges in New York 2024.

Farmingdale State College – SUNY

• Location: Farmingdale, New York
• Campus size: 380 acres
• Acceptance rate: 73%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,576
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,486
• Graduation rate: 36%

Students at Farmingdale State College – SUNY have various opportunities for experiential learning via guided research, internships and clinical training. They also have access to small and personalized classes.

Freshmen students admitted to Farmingdale have an average high school GPA of 3.3.

Other than the GPA, the following criteria also have a lot of weight in the admissions process:

• Rigor of secondary school record
• Application essay
• Letters of recommendation
• Interview
• Extracurricular activities
• Volunteer work
• Work experience
• Demonstrated interest

Farmingdale offers some of the most unique programs in the state of New York and the region, too, including a four-year aviation program and a four-year dental hygiene program.

SUNY Oneonta

• Location: Oneonta, New York
• Campus size: 250 acres
• Acceptance rate: 73%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,794
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,704
• Graduation rate: 66%

When SUNY Oneonta was founded in 1889, it was known as the Oneonta Normal School, and it was designed to train teachers and also expand public education in the state of New York.

Nowadays, the institution offers 100 plus majors, minors and pre-professional programs.

Students who get admitted to Oneonta have an average high school GPA of 3.5. For reference purposes, since the school is test-optional, their SAT and ACT scores range from 1090 to 1250 and 24 to 28, respectively.

Oneonta, as of this writing, has 5,430 students — of those, around 26% are underrepresented and minority students, while about 89% are pursuing undergraduate studies.

Speaking of which, some of the most popular majors among undergrads include:

• Elementary education
• Managerial economics
• Communications
• Psychology
• Biology

SUNY Geneseo

• Location: Geneseo, New York
• Campus size: 220 acres
• Acceptance rate: 75%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,966
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $19,206
• Graduation rate: 67%

US News ranks SUNY Geneseo #12 in Regional Universities North 2024 and #4 in Top Public Schools 2004. Meanwhile, the same popular college ranking site gives the following undergraduate programs of the school high rankings:

• Business
• Economics
• Psychology

Freshmen students who get into Geneseo have an average high school GPA of 3.7 — around 10% of admits have a 4.0 GPA and about 30% of them graduated in the top 10% of their class.

According to Geneseo itself, its various degree programs are comparable to the different prestigious schools enumerated below, although it offers them at a fraction of the cost:

• Colgate University
• Columbia University
• Hamilton College
• Rochester University
• Vassar College

SUNY Old Westbury

• Location: Old Westbury, New York
• Campus size: 604 acres
• Acceptance rate: 77%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,368
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,278
• Graduation rate: 31%

What makes SUNY Old Westbury, which was founded in 1965, a complete standout among all institutions in the SUNY system is that it offers more than 10 micro-credentials, both undergraduate and graduate ones.

Simply put, micro-credentials involve the completion of two to four related courses, after which students get their hands or certifications proving that they have attained specified competencies or skill sets.

In addition, micro-credentials available at Old Westbury are stackable, which means that classes taken can later count toward a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree.

Purchase College – SUNY

• Location: Purchase, New York
• Campus size: 500 acres
• Acceptance rate: 78%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,953
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,863
• Graduation rate: 57%

Purchase College – SUNY is one of the 13 university colleges of the entire SUNY system.

Founded in 1967, it has seven graduate programs as well as 32 minors and 47 majors. It has more than 3,200 students as of this writing, around 98% of whom are undergraduate students.

The average high school GPA of admitted first-time, first-year students is 3.4. And while Purchase does not require freshmen students to live on campus, they are given priority for on-campus housing.

Some of the most popular majors the school offers include:

• Communications
• Liberal arts and humanities
• Drama and theater production
• Fine and studio arts management
• Psychology

US News ranks Purchase #139 in National Liberal Arts Colleges 2024 and #9 in Top Public Schools 2024.

SUNY Maritime College

• Location: Throggs Neck, New York
• Campus size: 55 acres
• Acceptance rate: 80%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,570
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,480
• Graduation rate: 75%

SUNY Maritime College is the oldest and largest maritime school in the US, given that it came into being in 1874. What’s more, it’s one of the only seven degree-granting maritime institutions in the nation.

It takes pride in its five ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs, namely:

• Electrical engineering
• Facilities engineering
• Marine engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Naval architecture

Maritime College itself says that its graduates enjoy a 90% plus career placement rate and earn some of the highest average starting salaries in the country. According to US News, it amounts to $69,899 per year.

Alfred State College SUNY

• Location: Alfred, New York
• Campus size: 1,062 acres
• Acceptance rate: 82%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,862
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $13,112
• Graduation rate: 34%

Formerly known as the Technical College at Alfred, Alfred State College SUNY is one of the few technical colleges in the SUNY system. It has a rolling admissions and test-blind policy.

Undergraduate students, which make up 100% of the public institution’s student body, can choose from 80 majors. Some of the most popular of the bunch are the following:

• Business
• Nursing
• Electrical engineering technician
• Mechanical engineering technician
• Diesel mechanics

There are 110 student clubs and organizations, 17 intercollegiate sports teams and 12 fraternities and sororities. It’s ranked #10 in Best Greek Life Colleges in New York 2024 and #15 in Top Party Schools in New York 2024 by Niche.

The average high school GPA of freshmen students who get into Alfred State is 3.0.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

• Location: Utica, New York
• Campus size: 800 acres
• Acceptance rate: 82%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,578
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $19,338
• Graduation rate: 51%

Founded in 1966 and its earliest classes held at a primary school, SUNY Polytechnic now offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the following schools:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Engineering
• College of Health Sciences

Students can choose from more than 40 clubs and organizations. First-year and second-year students are required to reside on campus, except for those who live with a parent or legal guardian within 30 miles of SUNY Poly.

Undergrads can choose from nearly 50 majors, including online as well as hybrid ones.

SUNY Delhi

• Location: Delhi, New York
• Campus size: 625 acres
• Acceptance rate: 83%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,720
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $12,490
• Graduation rate: 27%

SUNY Delhi is one of the seven technical colleges of the SUNY system.

It’s currently being attended by 2,600 plus students, of which around 38% are from minority groups and approximately 95% are working on their undergraduate degrees.

The following are some of the most popular of the more than 50 majors SUNY Delhi offers:

• Nursing
• Veterinary technician and assistant
• Liberal arts and humanities
• Criminal justice and safety studies
• Business

US News ranks it #20 in Regional Colleges North 2024 and #12 in Top Public Schools 2024.

The average high school GPA of admitted freshmen students is 3.0. SUNY Delhi is a test-optional school, but those who are applying for associate degrees do not have the option of submitting their test scores.

SUNY Potsdam

• Location: Potsdam, New York
• Campus size: 240 acres
• Acceptance rate: 83%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,712
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,622
• Graduation rate: 37%

SUNY Potsdam is one of the 50 oldest colleges and universities in the US given that it was founded in 1816.

Today, it offers a total of 134 academic programs, with almost 50% of its attendees pursuing degrees in mathematics, the sciences and social sciences. It also consists of the following schools:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Crane School of Music
• School of Education and Professional Studies

The average high school GPA of admitted first-time, first-year students is 3.4.

Other than GPA, the following criteria also have the most weight in the admissions process at Potsdam:

• Rigor of secondary school record
• Application essay
• Letter of recommendation
• Extracurricular activities
• Character
• Alumni relation
• Volunteer work
• Work experience

SUNY Cobleskill

• Location: Cobleskill, New York
• Campus size: 902 acres
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,634
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,544
• Graduation rate: 43%

Having just 1,783 students, all of whom are undergraduates, SUNY Cobleskill is a small institution.

More than 50% of its classes consist of fewer than 20 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1 — it’s worth pointing out that the national average student-to-faculty ratio among colleges in the US is 18:1.

It has a rolling admissions policy and the average high school GPA of admitted freshmen students is 3.0.

Undergraduates at Cobleskill can choose from more than 40 clubs and organizations as well as six Greek organizations. On the other hand, there are 50 plus majors around, and the following are some of the most popular:

• Business
• Animal sciences and husbandry
• Wildlife and fisheries management
• Agricultural business
• Emergency medical technician (EMT)

SUNY Morrisville

• Location: Morrisville, New York
• Campus size: 150 acres
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,670
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $13,800
• Graduation rate: 22%

When it was founded in 1908, SUNY Morrisville was known as the New York State School of Agriculture at Morrisville. Currently, it has one of the very few equine rehabilitation facilities accessible to the public in the Northeast.

Morrisville offers more than 40 student clubs and organizations and literally hundreds of student-run campus activities every year. It’s also ranked #37 in Top Party Schools in New York 2024 by Niche.

While the SUNY school is test-optional, some select programs require the submission of SAT or ACT scores.

All first-time, first-year students whose permanent residences are more than 30 miles from the campus are required to live on campus for four consecutive semesters.

SUNY Oswego

• Location: Oswego, New York
• Campus size: 700 acres
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,769
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,679
• Graduation rate: 54%

Like many postsecondary institutions, SUNY Oswego requires all freshmen students to spend the first two years of their college careers living on campus — there are 11 residence halls available to accommodate them.

Attendees can participate in more than 110 clubs and organizations, ranging from performing arts to sports.

There are also more than 20 registered fraternities and sororities to choose from — Niche ranks Oswego #100 in Best Greek Life Colleges in America 2024 and #7 in Best Greek Life Colleges in New York 2024.

The following are some of the most popular of the school’s 100 plus majors:

• Radio and television
• Criminal justice and safety studies
• Elementary education
• Business
• Psychology

SUNY Fredonia

• Location: Fredonia, New York
• Campus size: 256 acres
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,795
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,705
• Graduation rate: 45%

Founded in 1826, SUNY Fredonia is the second-oldest public institution in New York.

Traditionally, Fredonia specializes in music education. As a matter of fact, Niche ranks it #86 in Best Colleges for Music in America 2024. These days, however, it offers a wide variety of programs, including emerging ones in technology.

Some of the most popular among its 100 plus majors include:

• Visual and performing arts
• Business
• Psychology
• Elementary education
• Music education

The average GPA of freshmen students admitted to Fredonia is 3.3, while over 90% of its enrollees are undergrads.

Buffalo State University – SUNY

• Location: Buffalo, New York
• Campus size: 125 acres
• Acceptance rate: 86%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,486
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,906
• Graduation rate: 25%

Because of the availability of an array of diverse academic programs, which amount to 170 undergraduate programs and 60 graduate programs, Buffalo State University – SUNY has attracted nearly 11,000 students.

Of those, around 66% are undergraduates and 55% are from minority groups.

The public research university also takes pride in the fact that it offers faculty-mentored research and prestigious internships — as a matter of fact, there are over 1,000 students who are participating in internship programs.

US News ranks it #119 in Regional Universities North 2024 and #44 in Top Public Schools 2024. Meanwhile, it’s ranked #9 in Top Party Schools in New York 2024 by Niche.

SUNY Canton

• Location: Canton, New York
• Campus size: 555 acres
• Acceptance rate: 95%
• In-state tuition and fees: $8,809
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,719
• Graduation rate: 40%
• What SUNY Canton specializes in is a career-driven education.

So much so that most of its four-year degree programs are integrated with internships that allow undergraduate students to earn credit toward their bachelor’s degrees as well as obtain a professional advantage.

There are nearly 30 majors undergraduates can choose from, and 16 of those are fully online. A lot of general education courses may also be taken via the internet.

SUNY Canton has a rolling admissions policy and admitted freshmen students have an average GPA of 3.1.