The State University of New York

The State University of New York (SUNY) was founded in 1948. However, this institution traces its roots back to 1816, when SUNY Potsdam, the oldest college in the SUNY System, was established as St. Lawrence Academy. In 1835, the state legislature took measures such as ensuring the allocation of funds for a special teacher-training department to strengthen teacher preparation programmes for public schools. 

For the next 100-110 years, the higher education system in the State of New York went through several ups and downs. Later in 1946-48, a Temporary Commission on the Need for a State University chaired by Owen D. Young (Chairman of the General Electric Company) decided to found The State University of New York. 

SUNY has been the most extensive system of higher education in the US, that over the years, has evolved to meet the changing needs of the students in the state of New York. In its initial days, the institution was a union of 29 unaffiliated institutions including 11 teachers’ colleges. Today, the system consists of 64 schools, including research universities, liberal arts colleges, health science schools, land-grant colleges, and 30 community colleges. These institutions are distributed over 29 state-operated campuses and five statutory colleges. 

Some of SUNY’s constituent institutions are ranked among the best in the country and the world. For example, Binghamton University SUNY was ranked 83rd among ‘National Universities’ in the US News & World Report 2022. Also, Stony Brook University SUNY was ranked 378 in the ‘World University Ranking’ by QS World University Rankings 2022. In this article, we will discuss the courses offered by SUNY, its admission process, fee structure, financial aid, and much more. 

Programs Offered at SUNY

SUNY has 64 different campuses where it offers over 7,000-degree programs and certificates in almost all streams and disciplines. Over 33,000 faculty members are employed across these campuses. Some of its major programs are: 

Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Program
Bachelor of Science in Anthropology	Master of Education in Biology
Bachelor of Science in Accounting	Master of Arts in English
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry	Master of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy	Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production	Master of Science in Nanoscale Science
Bachelor of Science in Economics	Master of Science in Nursing Education
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering	Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Bachelor of Arts in English	Master of Science in Information Design and Technology
Bachelor of Science in International Business	Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Arts in History	Master of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Science in Finance	Master of Science in Natural Sciences
Bachelor of Arts in Geography	Master of Arts in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Marketing	Master of Science in Comunity Health

Admission Process

SUNY is home to students coming from different parts of the world.  The acceptance rate of The State University of New York is 58.5%. In the fall of 2021, it enrolled 326,010 undergraduate and 44,104 graduate students, and 23,000 of these acceptees were international students representing 160 nations. The admission process at SUNY varies based on the program you wish to pursue. As each course may demand a specific set of skills, the eligibility criteria for every course differ. However, in the table below, the admission requirements that are common to all the programs are mentioned. 

Tests	Required Scores
TOEFL (Internet-Based Test)	100 and above
IELTS	7.5 and above
PTE Academic	70  and above
Duolingo English Test	125 and above

The course-wise admission prerequisites are available on the university’s official website. Students can visit the website to understand the admission process of their chosen program.

Fee Structure and Financial Aid

The table below illustrates the tuition fee for students pursuing undergraduate programs.

Types of Costs	Amount
State-Operated
In-state Tuition	$7,070
Out-of-state Tuition	$16,980
Mandatory Fees	$1,710
Community College
In-state Tuition	$4,870
Out-of-state Tuition	$9,890
Mandatory Fees	$790

SUNY assists students in financing their higher education through several kinds of financial aids such as scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans, among others. Some of the scholarships provided by this institution are:

• Excelsior Scholarship
• Carey Gabay Scholarship
• NYS STEM Incentive Program
• Presidential Scholarship
• Weinrauch Scholarship
• Cadet Appointment Program Scholarship

If you wish to study at the largest comprehensive public university system in the US, then the State University of New York is what you are looking for. We hope that this article has provided you with all the essential information you require to make an informed decision about choosing SUNY to pursue your education.  All the best!