More selective than 72% of New York colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose State University of New York at Cortland over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What State University of New York at Cortland weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as State University of New York at Cortland reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- High school GPA
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Class rank
- Character and personal qualities
- First-generation college student
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- SAT/ACT scores
- Interview
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of State University of New York at Cortland first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.26. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
99% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
You hear early and can still apply elsewhere.
1,571 offered a spot, 1,399 took it, 211 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
State University of New York at Cortland admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 60% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 51% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is State University of New York at Cortland compared with other New York colleges?
State University of New York at Cortland has the 40th-lowest acceptance rate of 140 New York colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | CUNY Lehman College | 57% | 51% | $3,148 |
| 37 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 57% | 56% | $3,203 |
| 38 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 58% | 54% | $3,103 |
| 39 | Fordham University | 59% | 82% | $44,338 |
| 40 | State University of New York at Cortland | 60% | 68% | $22,345 |
| 41 | CUNY City College | 60% | 57% | $3,776 |
| 42 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 60% | 81% | $19,095 |
| 43 | Touro University | 61% | 72% | $29,627 |
| 44 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 62% | 72% | $18,809 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All New York colleges →
Who enrolls at State University of New York at Cortland
College Scorecard; IPEDS
State University of New York at Cortland admissions questions
What is the State University of New York at Cortland acceptance rate?
State University of New York at Cortland accepts 60% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 8,046 of 15,867 applicants were admitted.
Does State University of New York at Cortland require the SAT or ACT?
State University of New York at Cortland does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
How many admitted students enroll at State University of New York at Cortland?
15% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,217 of 8,046).
What does State University of New York at Cortland look for in applicants?
State University of New York at Cortland reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, high school GPA. Important: essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability. Considered: class rank, character and personal qualities, first-generation college student, where you live, state residency, volunteer work, work experience, your demonstrated interest. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does State University of New York at Cortland have early decision?
No. State University of New York at Cortland does not offer binding early decision, but it offers non-binding early action (Common Data Set 2025-26).
How many students get off the State University of New York at Cortland waitlist?
For fall 2025, 1,571 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 1,399 accepted one and 211 were admitted (15% of those who stayed on the list).
Is State University of New York at Cortland getting harder to get into?
State University of New York at Cortland accepted 60% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 51% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; State University of New York at Cortland's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to State University of New York at Cortland overview