Montclair State University vs. SUNY Cortland

Deciding between Montclair State University and State University of New York at Cortland? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Montclair State University
State University of New York at Cortland

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
  • SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
  • Setting
  • Montclair State University Large Suburban
  • SUNY Cortland Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Montclair State University 23,375
  • SUNY Cortland 6,938
  • Type
  • Montclair State University Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Cortland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Montclair State University #652
  • SUNY Cortland #422
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Montclair State University -
  • SUNY Cortland -
  • Status
  • Montclair State University Non-profit
  • SUNY Cortland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Montclair State University
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Montclair State University $15,912
  • SUNY Cortland $8,874
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Montclair State University $26,022
  • SUNY Cortland $18,784
  • Room & Board
  • Montclair State University $16,730
  • SUNY Cortland $15,560
  • Average Net Price
  • Montclair State University $17,669
  • SUNY Cortland $19,847
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University $12,341
  • SUNY Cortland $8,254
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University 84%
  • SUNY Cortland 63%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Montclair State University 26,257
  • SUNY Cortland 17,571
  • Admitted
  • Montclair State University 23,076
  • SUNY Cortland 10,505
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Montclair State University 87.9%
  • SUNY Cortland 59.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Montclair State University 18.2%
  • SUNY Cortland 13.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Montclair State University 1060
  • SUNY Cortland 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Montclair State University
  • SUNY Cortland 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Montclair State University 3.3
  • SUNY Cortland 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Montclair State University B+
  • SUNY Cortland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Montclair State University Easy
  • SUNY Cortland Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Montclair State University
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • ACT Range
  • Montclair State University
  • SUNY Cortland 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • Montclair State University 910/1210
  • SUNY Cortland 1090/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Montclair State University Test optional
  • SUNY Cortland Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Montclair State University
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Montclair State University 18:1
  • SUNY Cortland 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Montclair State University
    • Work and Family Studies (17%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • SUNY Cortland
    • Education (41%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Montclair State University 62%
  • SUNY Cortland 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Montclair State University $51,100
  • SUNY Cortland $47,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Montclair State University 67%
  • SUNY Cortland 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Montclair State University $22,999
  • SUNY Cortland $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Montclair State University $237
  • SUNY Cortland $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Montclair State University 39%
  • SUNY Cortland 44%
  • % Women
  • Montclair State University 61%
  • SUNY Cortland 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Montclair State University High
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • HBCU
  • Montclair State University No
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • % White
  • Montclair State University 44%
  • SUNY Cortland 74%
  • % Asian
  • Montclair State University 5%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Black
  • Montclair State University 11%
  • SUNY Cortland 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Montclair State University 25%
  • SUNY Cortland 11%
  • % Native American
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Montclair State University 3%
  • SUNY Cortland 2%
  • % International
  • Montclair State University 2%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Montclair State University 9%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Montclair State University 95%
  • SUNY Cortland 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Montclair State University 4%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Montclair State University No
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • SUNY Cortland Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Montclair State University is larger than SUNY Cortland based on total student enrollment (23,375 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montclair State University is located in Montclair, NJ (Large Suburban setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Montclair State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montclair State University 18:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Montclair State University vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montclair State University or SUNY Cortland? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montclair State University than SUNY Cortland ($17,669 vs. $19,847).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 7% lower than at Montclair State University ($15,560 vs. $16,730).
  • Montclair State University is 79.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $7,038 more per year; $15,912.00 vs. $8,874.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at Montclair State University than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $7,238 more per year; $26,022.00 vs. $18,784.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montclair State University than at State University of New York at Cortland (84% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montclair State University students is 49.5% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($12,341 vs. $8,254).

Montclair State University vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montclair State University or SUNY Cortland? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SUNY Cortland and Montclair State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 110 points higher than at Montclair State University (1060).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montclair State University 910/1210; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsState University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Montclair State University - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Montclair State University (3.3).
  • Montclair State University has a higher acceptance rate (87.9%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at Montclair State University vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Montclair State University vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Montclair State University and SUNY Cortland? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Montclair State University's (62%).
  • Graduates from Montclair State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $1,499 lower median loan debt than Montclair State University graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,999).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montclair State University graduates ($222 vs. $237).
  • More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montclair State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.