SUNY Potsdam vs Cortland

SUNY College at Potsdam and SUNY Cortland, both esteemed institutions within the State University of New York system, offer distinct educational experiences. Potsdam, nestled in the scenic North Country, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Cortland, situated in the vibrant city of Cortland, offers a more diverse student body and a higher acceptance rate, providing a dynamic and inclusive environment. While both institutions excel in various academic disciplines, Potsdam is renowned for its strong programs in the arts, music, and education, while Cortland is recognized for its exceptional offerings in physical education, kinesiology, and health sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these institutions, including their graduation rates, popular majors, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
SUNY Cortland logo

SUNY Cortland

SUNY College at Potsdam logo

SUNY College at Potsdam

Overview

Location Cortland, New York Potsdam, New York
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 80.0% 67.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.5% 81.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1090 - 1240 N/A
ACT range 22 - 27 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 1.0%
Total number of applicants 11,420 3,225
Total number of admissions given out 6,909 2,623
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,221 416
Yield rate 17.7% 15.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,210

Out of state: $36,120
In state: $21,784

Out of state: $31,694
Average net price $17,703 $14,494
Tuition
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $16,980
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $16,980
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,320

Meal plan: $5,240
Room/dormitory: $8,150

Meal plan: $5,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

67.0%
Average amount $8,299
92.0%
Average amount $10,014
Students receiving federal student loan 67.0%
Average amount $5,041
71.0%
Average amount $4,995
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $12,692
12.0%
Average amount $11,185

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,984
Men 43.9% Women 56.1%
2,352
Men 37.6% Women 62.4%
Graduate students 674
Men 28.3% Women 71.7%
255
Men 27.8% Women 72.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 3.4% 3.9%
International students 0.4% 0.8%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 3,077 2,715
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania Georgia New York Vermont Connecticut New Jersey Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 64.9% 49.8%
Dropout rate 5.1% 17.1%
Transferred out 29.3% 32.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $77,923
  • Year 2: $77,401
  • Year 3: $83,130
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,928
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $58,583
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,555
  • Year 2: $40,768
  • Year 3: $53,893
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,864
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $53,247
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,796
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $52,839
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,533
  • Year 2: $48,789
  • Year 3: $52,808
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,249
  • Year 2: $48,703
  • Year 3: $51,520
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,567
  • Year 2: $32,806
  • Year 3: $50,314
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,594
  • Year 2: $44,021
  • Year 3: $49,016
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,326
  • Year 2: $38,108
  • Year 3: $48,323
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $80,254
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,353
  • Year 2: $40,017
  • Year 3: $47,596
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,838
  • Year 2: $43,712
  • Year 3: $46,516
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,686
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $46,475
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,720
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $45,785
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,690
  • Year 2: $34,420
  • Year 3: $44,513
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,078
  • Year 2: $37,424
  • Year 3: $43,713
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,008
  • Year 2: $35,891
  • Year 3: $43,677
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,842
  • Year 2: $27,440
  • Year 3: $40,409
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $39,586

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