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SUNY Cortland is a public university and part of the State University system of New York state. Cortland is a half hour south of Syracuse and approximately three hours from both New York City and Buffalo. This is a mid-sized residential university, with nearly 6,000 undergraduate students and 1,700 master's degree candidates.
When it comes to academics, students can choose from 67 total undergraduate majors in 27 departments. Graduate students can choose from 39 degrees and graduate certificate programs. Academics are split between the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and the School of Professional Studies.
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Overview of SUNY Cortland
When they're not buried in their books, Cortland students have lots of fun. They expand their education in over 100 clubs and organizations and find leadership opportunities in the dorms, campus groups, and athletic teams. Many Cortland students enjoy spending time volunteering for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the local Fire Department, or even the Emergency Medical Service.
However, for pure fun and fellowship, Cortland students enjoy friendly competition in campus intramural sports or other athletic endeavors. There are courses available in Tai Chi, karate, and yoga. The Student Life Center is also home to an aquatics center, a climbing (or bouldering) wall, a game room, a three-court gym, and a three-lane track.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | Town: Distant |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 15:1 |
Graduation Rate | 65% |
Year Founded | 1868 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students6,658
5,984
674
Undergraduate Student
Male 2,633
Female 3,351
Graduate Student
Male 297
Female 377
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SUNY Cortland Acceptance Rate and Admissions
APPLICATIONS11,420
ACCEPTANCE6,852
Acceptance Rate60%
Enrollment 1,233
Admissions | |
---|---|
Application Fee | $50 |
High School GPA | Considered But Not Required |
High School Rank | Considered But Not Required |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Recommended |
Recommendations | Required |
SAT/ACT | Considered But Not Required |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | Considered But Not Required |
Application Deadline | Rolling |
Common Application Accepted | Yes |
SUNY Cortland Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
SUNY Cortland is a publicly funded university that is able to contain costs thanks to taxpayer dollars. In fact, the gross costs of tuition, books, and fees for a New York resident is a very affordable $10,000 per year. Out-of-state students, on the other hand, don't get the benefit of such low tuition and, thus, face a gross cost of $20,000 for their courses and associated fees. Students don't live on knowledge alone, however.
Once room, board, and other living costs are tallied, New York residents still face gross costs of around $27,000. Non-residents see their gross price tag rise, as well. Costs for non-residents hover under $37,000, which is still a great deal in higher education. Nevertheless, Cortland's financial aid workers can bring the net price down even farther.
After they apply for all applicable grants and scholarships, the average net price for all students is only $18,000, including all living costs. This average net figure falls to under $12,000 for households that earn under $30,000; and families whose annual income exceeds $110,001 still pay and average net cost of under $24,000.
Average net price | 2020-2021 |
---|---|
Net Price | $17,703 |
Average Total Aid | $8,299 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 86% |
Room & Board | $13,200 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $8,815
- Tuition Out-of-State - $18,725
- Books and Supplies - $1,200
- Room & Board - $13,200
- Other - $2,935
Popular Academic Programs at SUNY Cortland
Students have many reasons to flock to New York state's public university in Cortland. They may have a family tradition that dates to the early 1900s or before; they may simply be attracted to the location and campus amenities. However, they stick around and graduate because of the strong academic programs that prepare them for career success.
Our researchers verified Cortland's academic strength when they evaluated the school's statistics including the retention rate, graduation rate, and other metrics. The retention rate is a figure that reflects how many first-time, full-time students return to campus for their second year. Cortland boasts a staggering 80% retention rate, a figure often reserved for top private institutions.
Not only do Cortland students return for a second year - they also study hard and find their way to the graduation stage. Nearly 70% of Cortland students graduate, with 26% transferring. Most transfer students are ambitious and can be assumed to also graduate, perhaps from another SUNY campus.
Cortland's academic strength can be attributed to many factors, but the student experience is at the root of it all. Since SUNY Cortland maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1, it's clear that students can receive the faculty feedback they need.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 6,658
5,984
674
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
All Education Majors | 527 Total Graduates / 31% |
---|---|
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 183 Graduates |
Elementary Education and Teaching | 170 Graduates |
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs | 82 Graduates |
Social Studies Teacher Education | 26 Graduates |
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | 18 Graduates |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology | 278 Total Graduates / 17% |
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 121 Graduates |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 110 Graduates |
Physical Fitness Technician | 24 Graduates |
Outdoor Education | 8 Graduates |
Sports Studies | 7 Graduates |
All Social Sciences Majors | 176 Total Graduates / 11% |
Criminology | 81 Graduates |
Sociology, General | 38 Graduates |
Political Science and Government, General | 25 Graduates |
Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 10 Graduates |
International Relations and Affairs | 9 Graduates |
All Health Professions and Related Majors | 124 Total Graduates / 7% |
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 43 Graduates |
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 33 Graduates |
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 17 Graduates |
Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management | 16 Graduates |
Athletic Training/Trainer | 15 Graduates |
All Business Majors | 115 Total Graduates / 7% |
Business/Managerial Economics | 115 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 27% |
Outcome & Salary
SUNY Cortland offers terrific academics at an affordable rate, yet students are still interested to know how their educational dollar will pay them back later. While there are never any guarantees when it comes to salaries vis-a-vis a degree, researchers did review the salary figures reported by former Cortland graduates.
Interestingly, Cortland's top earning graduates were from the biology department. These scientists reported a median starting salary of $65,000. The fifth highest-earning graduates boast degrees in communication and they reported median earnings of $61,000. Meanwhile, the third highest earners, managerial economics students, reported a median salary of $63,000. Mathematics students also made the top five earners with median starting earnings of $64,000.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $48,600 |
College Grads Average Salary | $67,000 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $88,800 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $670,000 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,558,000 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $70,812 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $599,188 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,487,188 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
---|---|
National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
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