Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
State University of New York at Cortland admits about 6 in 10 applicants (62%). That puts it in the "Selective in-state, Accessible out of state" tier, more selective than 73% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 53%, women at 65%.
Where applicants live
New York applicants were admitted at 62%, applicants from other states at 87%, and international applicants at 56%.
All applicants in the same class: 62%
Of those admitted, 12% from New York enrolled, against 10% from other states and 17% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
12% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Wait list: 1,571 offered a place, 1,399 accepted, 211 admitted (15% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 15; decisions by Jan 1
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How State University of New York at Cortland reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is considered. 22% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores aren't read. Of the 39% whose high school reported a rank, 14% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and science (3 of each required). See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Not considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
53% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 62% of first-year applicants
1,681 applied · 893 admitted · 431 enrolled
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1, reply by May 1
- Spring entry: priority date November 30
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: December 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- $200 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3 / 4) | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 3 | 4 |
| Social studies | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 17 | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started requiring an essay in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
The map plots acceptance rate against SAT scores. State University of New York at Cortland doesn't report both, so it isn't shown.
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.26
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.04%
- 3.75–3.9917%
- 3.50–3.7427%
- 3.25–3.4925%
- 3.00–3.2418%
- below 3.09%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 4.1% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 17.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 26.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 24.8% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 18.3% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 8.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.5% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
14% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 40% in the top quarter, of the 39% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
Not considered
Scores aren't considered, even if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Sources:State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)