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 |
![]() 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% |
![]() |
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 |
|
|
|
||
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 |
|
|
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)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.





































































































