SUNY Cortland: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially State University of New York at Cortland · Cortland, New York · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #25 (tie) in Regional Universities North; Economics #222 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by State University of New York at Cortland (see the source).
Is SUNY Cortland a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places SUNY Cortland against it in about a minute. No account needed.
SUNY Cortland is a public university in Cortland, New York that admits about 60% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,345 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
SUNY Cortland is a public institution located in Cortland, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, SUNY Cortland admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 60%. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 25. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,345 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for SUNY Cortland?
SUNY Cortland admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
Compare SUNY Cortland with the other schools on your list
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SAT and ACT scores SUNY Cortland typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 25 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
- • Test-blind: SUNY Cortland does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not Considered
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 10% |
| Top 25% of class | 10% |
| Top 50% of class | 10% |
How much does SUNY Cortland actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,874 for in-state students and $18,784 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,560 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,345 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 27% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $4,970 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $12,870 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,345 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $4 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for SUNY Cortland
| Regular deadline | page 4 |
| Notification date | and |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Most popular majors at SUNY Cortland
The most popular undergraduate programs at SUNY Cortland, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. Across all programs, SUNY Cortland confers roughly 1,014 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program report a median income of about $61,501 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 236 | $61,501 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 233 | $62,533 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 138 | $60,026 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 93 | $75,120 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 86 | $70,344 |
| Psychology, General | 80 | $56,613 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 78 | $57,625 |
| Criminology | 70 | $62,640 |
Is SUNY Cortland safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), SUNY Cortland disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 4 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
- State University of New York at Oswego81% acceptance
- SUNY at Purchase College74% acceptance
- SUNY Brockport71% acceptance
- SUNY Buffalo State University73% acceptance
- SUNY Old Westbury84% acceptance
- SUNY Oneonta70% acceptance
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art21% acceptance
- Columbia University in the City of New York4% acceptance
Next steps for SUNY Cortland
Common questions parents ask about SUNY Cortland
What GPA do I need for SUNY Cortland?
SUNY Cortland admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does SUNY Cortland typically admit?
SUNY Cortland is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does SUNY Cortland actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at SUNY Cortland after grants and scholarships is $22,345 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,874 and $18,784 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is SUNY Cortland realistic for my child?
SUNY Cortland admits 60% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $22,345 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at SUNY Cortland?
SUNY Cortland accepts about 60% of applicants. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is SUNY Cortland test-optional?
SUNY Cortland is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
Is SUNY Cortland a public or private school, and where is it located?
SUNY Cortland is a public institution located in Cortland, New York.
What are the most popular majors at SUNY Cortland?
The largest undergraduate majors at SUNY Cortland by annual graduates are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. The school awards about 1,014 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is SUNY Cortland safe? What is its campus crime rate?
SUNY Cortland reported 11 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by State University of New York at Cortland, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers