State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public · Town (distant) · SUNY Cortland · SUNYC

Public institution in Cortland, NY · 5,896 undergraduates · 51% acceptance rate · $60,236 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 18%Acceptance rate
Top 20%Undergraduates
Top 23%In-state tuition & fees
Top 24%Graduation rate (4-year)

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $19,9511,065th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $8,815461st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $18,725769th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $26,413779th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $21,500813th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $60,236533rd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $46,535765th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 68.3%492nd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 80.8%628th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 50.7%284th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: 25346th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 5,896430th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 15.0:11,317th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 26.9%1,380th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 168 mi (EWR)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in New York#24

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 50 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Special Education and TeachingEducation	bachelors	$50,231	$46,087
Business/Managerial EconomicsBusiness	bachelors	$41,937	$40,768
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherHealth Professions	bachelors	$40,821	$33,637
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation	bachelors	$39,549	$38,108
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$39,369	$39,369
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$37,208	$35,060
CriminologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$36,560	$32,806
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$35,728	$35,060
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$34,847	$33,993
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$34,298	$38,289
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts	bachelors	$33,993	$33,281
Design and Applied ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$32,925	$29,685

Campus facts

Founded in 1868source
Athletic nickname: "Red Dragons"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Red and Whitesource
Mascot: Blazesource
Motto: "Seize the Moment, Feel the Momentum"source
Formerly known as "Cortland Normal School" (1868–1941)source
Formerly known as "Cortland State Teachers College" (1941–1961)source
Formerly known as "State University of New York College at Cortland" (1961–2023)source
Notable alum: Kevin Jamessource
Notable alum: George Tenetsource
Notable alum: Mick Foleysource

Athletics — 17 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.