What Are the SUNY Schools?

New York State’s many attractions include the nation’s largest university system. The State University of New York’s (SUNY) 64 campuses offer strong academics and affordable education through 7,000 degree and certificate programs.

You can begin paving your career path through SUNY’s on-campus programs and 700 online majors. Location is everything! Attending a school in New York puts you closer to job and networking opportunities in the Northeast Corridor, spanning several states. We take a look at the SUNY schools, how much they cost, and how to apply.

Approximately 1.3 million students pursue degrees, certificates, and continuing education credits at SUNY. The system’s 64 campuses include community colleges, research institutions, and liberal arts colleges located throughout the state. They also include programs hosted on the campuses of private institutions like Cornell University and Alfred University.

Comparatively, City University of New York’s (CUNY) 25 schools offer academic programs primarily for students living in New York City’s five boroughs. CUNY, the nation’s largest urban public university, was designed for open access. Some SUNY institutions can be more selective and most are situated outside of NYC. We’ve compiled a list of all SUNY schools to help you choose the right college for you.

Reputation can vary from campus to campus, but the system is known for offering a quality education at an affordable price. While SUNY colleges may not have the same level of name recognition as some of the legacy Ivy League or private institutions, many of them are highly respected both nationally and internationally, said Lonnie Woods, a college admissions expert and professor in the arts administration master’s program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Now that you’ve explored the SUNY campuses and know which ones you would like to attend, it’s time to start sending out applications. Applying to college may seem like a daunting task, and that’s why we’ve broken down the main steps.

SUNY makes applying easy. With just one SUNY application you can apply to multiple campuses in the system. The first step is to create an applySUNY account by supplying your email address and password.

The SUNY application consists of several pages of questions you must fill out. You can preview the information required on the application by first completing an application. Some students choose to use Common App, but you’ll have to apply to each school individually, and not all SUNY schools accept this format.

Once you’ve carefully completed the application, it’s time to pay the application fee of $50 per school. You can save money by taking advantage of SUNY’s Free App Weeks. During these weeks in October, you can apply to up to five SUNY schools for free.

If you’re affiliated with the military, qualify as low-income, in foster care, or attending designated high schools — you get seven free apps. Students using Common App can also participate in Free App Weeks. Don’t forget to attach any additional documents before you apply. Make sure to check each school’s application deadline.

Many students turn to financial aid, such as scholarships, to help pay for their degree. The Excelsior scholarship program provides up to $5,500 to eligible SUNY and CUNY undergraduate students. Eligibility requirements include income disclosure, New York State residency of at least 12 months, and U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizens.

After you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, apply for the Excelsior scholarship. The scholarship does not pay for other college expenses. The application opens in the spring.

Picking a school from such a large system may seem tricky. SUNY schools differ in academic programs, enrollment size, location, and even how much tuition you pay.

Is one of SUNY’s 30 community colleges right for you? Some students earn an associate degree or a block of credits at a community college and transfer to a senior SUNY college. This gives you a head start on your education at two-year colleges that offer cheaper tuition.

SUNY’s two-year institutions, such as SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Westchester Community College, can make you job-ready with just a certificate or associate degree. If four-year colleges are more appealing, explore the different academic programs and locations at four-year SUNY campuses to narrow down your options.

Finally, look at your budget and each school’s tuition rates to see if there’s a match. When in doubt, work with a guidance counselor to help you make the right choice.

As Woods summed it up, The decision should be based on a thorough assessment of what each [school] has to offer in terms of programs, cost, location, and the overall college experience.

SUNY stands for State University of New York, a system of state-supported institutions located across New York. SUNY is the nation’s largest comprehensive university system and includes community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and research institutions.

SUNY’s 64 campuses serve approximately 1.3 million students pursuing credit-bearing and non-credit programs. The schools vary in size and provide programming on campuses in city, rural, and suburban areas. Most New Yorkers can find a SUNY campus within a 15-mile radius.

SUNY at Albany is the biggest college in the SUNY system, enrolling approximately 17,000 students in 200 undergraduate and graduate programs. A major research college, SUNY at Albany offers 300 student clubs and organizations and boasts 18 NCAA Division I athletic teams.

SUNY Corning Community College is the cheapest community college with an average annual tuition of $8,258. Comparatively, SUNY College at Old Westbury is the cheapest four-year college with an average annual tuition of $12,329.