About

About State University of New York at Cortland

education focusedpublic masters universityhealth sciences strengthupstate new yorktest optional admissions

State University of New York at Cortland is a public university in Cortland, NY, known for its education focused, public masters university, and health sciences strength. With an acceptance rate of 60%, SUNY Cortland is moderately selective, typically enrolling around 1,341 students each year. SUNY Cortland is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. SUNY Cortland offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $6,437 per year; the sticker price of $36,060 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

State University of New York at Cortland acceptance rate and admitted student profile

moderately selective

60%
Overall Accept Rate
3.50
Typical Admitted GPA

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to State University of New York at Cortland

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Cortland places meaningful weight on essays, so use your personal statement to connect your specific academic or career goals to a program Cortland is known for, such as physical education, sport management, or education. Admissions readers here want to see that you have a real reason for choosing Cortland, not just a generic statement about loving learning.
Extracurriculars
Cortland has a strong reputation in health, physical education, and teacher preparation, so if you are applying to one of those areas, highlight extracurriculars that directly relate to your intended field, such as coaching youth sports, tutoring, or working as a camp counselor. Admissions at Cortland pays attention to whether your activities align with your stated academic direction.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What State University of New York at Cortland actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$36k/yr$12.6k
30k-48k~$36k/yr$16.5k
48k-75k~$36k/yr$20.1k
75k-110k~$36k/yr$21.6k
110k+~$36k/yr$25.9k

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Personalize this page

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

68%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$47k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
16:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
6,014
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

76%White
12%Hispanic
4%Black / African American
4%Unknown / Unreported
3%Two or More Races
1%Asian
1%International
0%American Indian / AK Native
0%Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
Gender47% Men · 53% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status99% Citizens and Immigrants · 1% International
SUNY Cortland, Cortland Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch