collageBeyond college, Oneonta is known for its healthy, comfortable, small-town atmosphere, its stunning setting and its true sense of community. SUNY Oneonta is included in the list of America’s “Best Small Town Colleges” and ranked No. 14 on the Matador Network’s 2015 list of “20 Coolest Towns in the U.S. Oneonta is a highly selective college offering students a variety of liberal arts and science majors, pre-professional and teacher training programs.
About the SUNY System
The State University of New York (SUNY) is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. SUNY colleges are New York public colleges; there are 64 SUNY institutions of various types and sizes.
In this article, I’ll focus on the independent 4-year SUNY colleges with baccalaureate programs that you can enter as a freshman student. There are 25 SUNY schools that fit this criteria.
In addition to the schools I’ll be focusing on, there are also 2-year SUNY colleges, which are community colleges. Some of the SUNY 2-year colleges include Erie Community College, Nassau Community College, and Finger Lakes Community College.
Also, there are upper division SUNY colleges, which are colleges you can transfer to as a junior or senior. SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Downstate Medical Center are upper division colleges. The Fashion Institute of Technology allows you to apply to one of its Bachelor programs after you complete your first two years there and earn an Associate’s Degree.
Finally, there are five statutory colleges, which are schools that receive funding from the state but are hosted at and primarily run by private colleges. Four of the statutory colleges are at Cornell University and the other, the NYS College of Ceramics, is at Alfred University.
SUNY colleges vary in size, but most of the SUNY 4-year colleges are smaller state schools. Geographically, they’re spread throughout the state of New York, and they offer a wide variety of majors and programs.
Also, SUNY schools tend to be more affordable, especially for New York residents. For the 2022-2023 academic year, in-state tuition for a SUNY baccalaureate degree program (4-year degree) is $7,070. For out-of-state students, average tuition is $16,980. However, out-of-state tuition is $24,990 at University at Albany and Binghamton University. It’s $28,705 at the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University.
Comparatively, the tuition for Cornell, a private Ivy League college in New York, is $62,456 for 2022-2023. Keep in mind, though, that many private colleges do often offer generous financial aid.
Comparing the SUNY Schools by the Numbers
I’ve provided the undergraduate enrollment, average standardized test scores, and acceptance rates for the SUNY schools.
| School | Enrollment | Average SAT | Average ACT | Acceptance Rate |
| University at Albany | 12,654 | 1180 | 26 | 68% |
| Alfred State College | 3,414 | 1070 | 22 | 82% |
| Binghamton University | 14,307 | 1390 | 32 | 44% |
| SUNY Brockport | 5,714 | 1130 | 26 | 76% |
| Buffalo State College | 6,147 | 1040 | 19 | 85% |
| University at Buffalo | 21,467 | 1270 | 28 | 70% |
| SUNY Canton | 2,901 | 1080 | 19 | 95% |
| SUNY Cobleskill | 1,824 | 1070 | 19 | 81% |
| SUNY Cortland | 5,984 | 1160 | 24 | 60% |
| SUNY Delhi | 2,987 | 970 | 19 | 71% |
| Empire State College | 7,926 | Unavailable | Unavailable | 51% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | 1,594 | 1230 | 26 | 65% |
| SUNY Farmingdale | 9,284 | 1100 | 24 | 73% |
| SUNY Fredonia | 3,555 | 1180 | 27 | 91% |
| SUNY Geneseo | 4,468 | 1240 | 28 | 74% |
| SUNY Maritime | 1,401 | 1190 | 26 | 74% |
| Morrisville State College | 1,957 | 1000 | 22 | 81% |
| SUNY New Paltz | 6,256 | 1230 | 27 | 46% |
| SUNY Old Westbury | 4,659 | 1070 | 21 | 53% |
| SUNY Oneonta | 5,380 | 1060 | 22 | 70% |
| SUNY Oswego | 6,135 | 1170 | 27 | 78% |
| SUNY Plattsburgh | 4,323 | 1140 | 26 | 68% |
| SUNY Potsdam | 2,352 | 1140 | 25 | 81% |
| SUNY Purchase | 3,446 | 1220 | 29 | 75% |
| Stony Brook University | 17,999 | 1390 | 31 | 48% |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 2,043 | 1220 | 27 | 77% |
Ranking the SUNY Schools
It’s difficult to rank all the SUNY schools against each other because there are very different types of schools within the SUNY system. Some are large schools that offer research opportunities and graduate education, and some are much smaller schools that focus exclusively on undergraduate education.
For the purposes of this article, I’ll provide the US News rankings for each SUNY college. US News separates schools into four categories in its rankings: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, and Regional Colleges.
There are SUNY schools in each of the four categories, so only schools within the same category can be directly compared against each other. However, in terms of national prestige and selectivity, Stony Brook and Binghamton are probably the most well-regarded. As you can see by their acceptance rates and average standardized test scores, SUNY schools have varying levels of selectivity, but many of them are roughly equal in terms of selectivity.
National Universities
| School | Ranking |
| Binghamton University | #83 |
| Stony Brook University | #77 |
| University at Buffalo– SUNY | #89 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | #105 |
| University at Albany–SUNY | #182 |
National Liberal Arts Colleges
| School | Ranking |
| SUNY Purchase | #136 |
Regional Universities (North)
| School | Ranking |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | #9 |
| SUNY Geneseo | #16 |
| SUNY New Paltz | #22 |
| SUNY Oswego | #54 |
| SUNY Maritime | #40 |
| SUNY Fredonia | #70 |
| SUNY Plattsburgh | #68 |
| SUNY Cortland | #85 |
| SUNY Oneonta | #75 |
| SUNY Brockport | #75 |
| SUNY Potsdam | #73 |
| SUNY Buffalo State | #113 |
Regional Colleges (North)
| School | Ranking |
| SUNY Alfred | #9 |
| SUNY Delhi | #14 |
| SUNY Cobleskill | #15 |
| SUNY Canton | #17 |
| Farmingdale State | #24 |
| Morrisville State | #29 |
| SUNY Empire State College | Unranked |
How Do You Decide Which SUNY Schools To Apply to?
One benefit of applying to SUNY schools is that you can apply to multiple campuses at the same time; however, some of the SUNY campuses may ask you for supplemental forms or application essays. Remember, though, that you shouldn’t apply to schools you have no desire to attend. Also, unless you qualify for a fee waiver, there is an application fee of $50 for each campus you apply to.
To decide which SUNY schools to apply to, first research the campuses you have an initial interest in. Consider what’s important to you in a college. Factor in school size, location, campus culture, and selectivity. The undergraduate enrollment of SUNY schools ranges from about 2,000 to 20,000. Think about whether you want to go to a larger or smaller school. Think about whether you want to be part of a vibrant on-campus culture or in a more subdued environment with fewer distractions.
Determine which schools have the majors and programs that interest you. Use a college finder like Big Future to identify colleges with the majors you’re considering.
Furthermore, look at the list of schools you’re applying to and make sure you have at least a couple of safety schools. To consider a college a safety school, you should have at least an 80% chance of gaining admission. If you want to determine your odds of admission for a particular college, you can Google the name of the school with “PrepScholar admission requirements.” On the school’s profile, you can use the admissions calculator to help you roughly determine your chances of getting accepted to that college.
If you’re applying to any SUNY colleges, I recommend applying to 1-5 of them. Some people apply to only one SUNY school because it’s their safety school, there’s only one SUNY college that interests them, or they want to go to a specific SUNY and they can be confident that they’ll get in.
Others apply to more campuses because they want to go to a SUNY school and they’re still weighing their options, or they apply to a couple of the more selective SUNYs and some of the less selective ones.
How Do You Decide Which SUNY To Attend?
Choose which SUNY to attend the same way you would go about choosing any college. Consider which factors are most important to you in a college. Look at the school’s website and use college finders, search websites, guidebooks, and ranking lists to help you in the college selection process. Generally, most students pick SUNY schools based on their location, selectivity, degree programs, and size.
A substantial number of students choose to attend the SUNY that’s closest to home. They’re able to save money by living at home. Others prefer to experience life in a new environment.
I would always encourage students to at least consider a school that’s further away. Sometimes, students have to live at home due to financial or family situations, but I think it’s preferable to live on campus and not return home on a daily basis. You’ll have more fun, become more independent, and be able to participate in more on-campus extracurricular activities.
The size of the student body is also an important factor when picking a SUNY school. If you want to go to a bigger school, you should consider University at Buffalo, University at Albany, Binghamton, or Stony Brook. If you prefer a smaller school, you may be more interested in SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY College of Environment Science and Forestry, or SUNY Polytechnic.
Some students prefer the individualized attention and community feel of a smaller school while others enjoy the diversity of options for classes, programs, and activities that you’ll find at bigger schools.
Furthermore, selectivity and academic reputation are issues for some students. Many of the SUNY schools do not vary much in terms of selectivity or reputation, but there are differences. Binghamton and Stony Brook are probably the most prestigious SUNY schools. SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Purchase are arguably the most well-known and well-regarded of the smaller SUNY schools. Refer to the rankings and acceptance rates to get an idea of the reputations and selectivity of the SUNY schools.
Also, keep in mind that each SUNY school has different majors and programs. For example, at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, you can get a Bachelor of Science in forest resources management. At SUNY Maritime, you can get a BS in marine environmental science. If you’re interested in a specific major or program, or if you want to compare the majors offered at the different SUNY schools, I recommend using a college finder like Big Future to quickly and easily compare the different colleges and get a complete list of the available majors.
Finally, finances often play a role in your college decision. While tuition costs are the same for each SUNY (at least for in-state students), you may get more financial aid at a particular campus. Many of the SUNY schools also offer merit scholarships, and you may get more merit aid at one of the institutions. If you live close to a SUNY school, you can also save money by living at home.
List Of SUNY Colleges In New York
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s emphasis on high-quality education, combined with its overall low net price, delivers students a great value for the money. This won SUNY – ESF the #138 ranking on the Best Colleges in the Money List, relative to other colleges and universities around the country.
SUNY Geneseo
The State University of New York College at Geneseo is a highly selective, private liberal arts college situated in one of the most stunning villages in upstate New York City. The college draws some of the most promising students from New York and beyond and is generally viewed as a public counterpart to a small, elite, private liberal arts college. SUNY Geneseo, also known as Geneseo State University of New York College, is based in Geneseo, New York.
The College at Brockport State University of New York
SUNY Brockport is a public institution established in 1835. It has a cumulative enrolment of 6,673 undergraduates, a residential atmosphere, and a campus area of 464 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Its ranking in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities North, #83. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,926; out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,836 It famous majors – Business Administration Major (BS) Business Administration Online Degree Completion.
Buffalo State College
Our city is your classroom. As SUNY’s only urban four-year college, Buffalo State has a mission that grows directly from our location. We serve the city because we are of the city. Buffalo, NY, is a big city with a small-town feel. Our tree-lined campus is in walking distance to dining, shopping, museums, galleries, and parks.
Buffalo State’s long history and commitment to education are the cornerstones of its respected reputation. Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni share vast and varied stories of how the Buffalo State experience transformed their lives.
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