What are some good safety schools in New York State?

When looking for safety schools in New York State, SUNY colleges offer excellent academic quality while maintaining higher acceptance rates. SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Cortland both accept around 70% of applicants and provide strong liberal arts programs at affordable prices. These schools are particularly good choices if you're interested in education, business, or natural sciences.

SUNY Brockport and SUNY Oswego are also well-regarded safety options, with acceptance rates above 60% and strong academic programs. Both schools offer a traditional college experience with Division III athletics, active student life, and excellent career preparation programs. These mid-sized campuses provide personal attention from professors while maintaining the resources of the larger SUNY system.

St. John Fisher University in Rochester and Ithaca College's lower-tier programs can serve as solid safety schools, especially if you prefer a private college experience. While Ithaca College is more selective overall, some of their programs have higher acceptance rates, making them reasonable safety options for strong students. These schools offer excellent facilities, engaged faculty, and strong career placement rates.

Pace University's NYC and Pleasantville campuses provide another strategic safety choice, especially if you want access to New York City opportunities without NYU's extreme selectivity. Their business and computer science programs are particularly strong, and they maintain good connections with employers throughout the state.

Remember that a safety school should have an acceptance rate at least 25-30 percentage points higher than your target schools, and your academic profile should be well above their average admitted student statistics. Given that you're aiming for NYU and Cornell, schools like SUNY Albany or Binghamton might serve as targets rather than safeties, despite their strong reputations.