1868
Cortland, NY

About SUNY Cortland

Located atop one of the rolling hills in central New York’s “City of Seven Valleys,” the State University of New York College at Cortland was founded in 1868 as the Cortland Normal School. Over the decades, the campus expanded, and in 1941, by an act of the legislature and the Board of Regents, the institution officially became a four-year college providing courses leading to the bachelor’s degree. In 1948, Cortland became a founding member of the State University of New York. 

Today SUNY Cortland offers over 65 undergraduate degrees and over 35 graduate degrees. Certificates are also available. Programs are housed in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Professional Studies. SUNY Cortland online degrees are also available at the graduate level in each of these schools. These online degrees are convenient, flexible, and affordable.

Accreditation & Licensing

SUNY Cortland is accredited by:

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Type:

4-year, Public

Highest Level Offered:

Post-master's certificate

Religious Affiliation:

Not applicable

Enrollment:

Undergraduate: 6,575 ; Graduate: 1,249

Percent of Fully Online Students:

Undergraduate: 5% ; Graduate: 66%

Graduation Rate:

68%

Transfer Rate:

25%

Median Earnings, 10-Years After Degree Completion:

$60,236

Median Debt After Graduation (4-Year Degree):

$21,500

Average Undergraduates Receiving Aid:

58%

Per Undergraduate Average Aid Award:

$8,358

Yellow Ribbon Program:

Yes

Credit for Military Training:

Yes

Online Programs offered by SUNY Cortland

Check Program Availability

All Programs

Art & Liberal Arts

Best Buy degree
Master of Arts in History

Education

Popular degreeBest Buy degree
Master of Science in Education in Physical Education Leadership
Best Buy degree
Master of Science in Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Healthcare

Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Recreation
Master of Science in Therapeutic Recreation

Frequently Asked Questions About SUNY Cortland

Is SUNY Cortland accredited?

Yes. SUNY Cortland is institutionally accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many online programs does SUNY Cortland offer?

SUNY Cortland offers 5 online programs currently listed on GetEducated.

What degree levels does SUNY Cortland offer?

SUNY Cortland is focused on master's-level programs.

How should students contact admissions at SUNY Cortland?

Ready to connect? Check Admission Details to get admissions, tuition, and timeline details directly from the school.

Is SUNY Cortland expensive, and what are the tuition costs?

Roughly speaking, SUNY Cortland falls into GetEducated’s $$ tuition tier, which points to a mid tuition range.

How quickly can I enroll at SUNY Cortland?

Enrollment at any school can be a quick process; if all required admission requirements are met. This is where students can get hung up and slow down the process by taking too long to gather required documentation.

What should transfer students ask SUNY Cortland first?

The first thing you must do is order your transcripts from any previous school you attended and have them provided to the new school immediately with the hopes of receiving an unofficial transfer credit evaluation quickly. In an ideal world, students would have an official transfer credit evaluation done prior to committing to enrollment at any school; however with the vast majority of schools, official transfer credit evaluations happen after you are already enrolled, typically in the first semester.

What GPA do most SUNY Cortland programs require?

GPA requirements typically range from 2.8 to 3.0, and 3.0 appears most often.

Is SUNY Cortland military friendly?

SUNY Cortland does not show Yellow Ribbon support. If military benefits matter for your plan, check current military options before you apply.

How can students request information from SUNY Cortland through GetEducated?

Comparing schools right now? Request Information to get admissions, tuition, and start-date details sent directly to you.

What documents are most commonly required for SUNY Cortland applications?

Most listed programs ask for Official College Transcript(s), Statement of Purpose/Intent, Resume/CV, and Recommendation/Reference Letter(s). Getting these ready early can keep the application process moving.

Does SUNY Cortland accept life experience credit?

SUNY Cortland does not show a school-wide life experience credit policy. Check Transfer Options to confirm transfer-credit options for your specific program.

Are SUNY Cortland programs fully online or mixed?

SUNY Cortland programs are primarily listed as 100% Online, which can help students screen for schedule fit before applying.

What kinds of online programs does SUNY Cortland offer?

SUNY Cortland has online program options in areas such as Education, Healthcare, and Art & Liberal Arts; start with the field that best matches your career goal, then compare cost, format, and admissions requirements. Compare Programs to get program, admissions, and cost details before applying.

Are any admission tests required for SUNY Cortland programs?

Some listed programs include GRE requirements, so students should check test expectations before choosing a program.

Do in-state and out-of-state tuition totals differ at SUNY Cortland?

Some programs show different in-state and out-of-state tuition totals, so check your specific program cost.

Do any SUNY Cortland programs have state authorization limitations?

State authorization restrictions are not prominent across available programs, but students should still confirm eligibility for their state. Check State Eligibility before applying to confirm whether your program is available where you live.

How often can students start at SUNY Cortland?

Start times per year typically range from 3-6 for most schools. For SUNY Cortland, students should confirm the next available start date for their specific program before applying.

How should working adults compare SUNY Cortland programs?

Working adults should compare program format, pacing, total cost, and application requirements before choosing a path.

What should students compare before choosing a SUNY Cortland program?

Students should compare accreditation fit, program format, application requirements, total cost, and whether the timeline works with their schedule.

Featured Ranking Reports

SUNY Cortland is featured in 3 of our ranking reports!

GetEducated continually compiles custom ranking reports to give you a complete snapshot of schools, degrees, tuition, and a detailed report on thousands of job categories throughout the entire education industry.

We provide these comprehensive ranking reports to you, for free. Click on any report below to learn more about how we ranked this school.

Geographic and Educational Overview

Google Map

SUNY Cortland is located in New York

New York at a Glance:

State flag of NY
Albany
20,201,249
54,555 sq mi
64
150
35
$16,800.00

Top Incentives in New York:

Top Career Pathways in New York:

Financial Analysis
  • Entry Level: Financial Analyst ($85,000)
  • Mid Level: Senior Analyst ($130,000)
  • Senior Level: Finance Director ($200,000+)
  • Required Education: BS Finance
  • Certifications: CFA, Series 7, Series 63
* Data is approximate and may be AI-enhanced