SUNY-ESF vs. SU

Should I go to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SUNY-ESF or SU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry vs. Shenandoah University comparison
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Shenandoah University
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Overview

 SUNY-ESF SU
Location Syracuse, NY Winchester, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,976 4,260
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #206 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website esf.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SUNY-ESF SU
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $18,720 $33,790
Room & Board $17,300 $11,230
Avg Net Price $20,928 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $8,713 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

 SUNY-ESF SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,466 2,296
Admitted 1,714 1,845
Acceptance Rate 69.5% 80.4%
Enrolled % 20.8% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30 19/26
SAT Range 1130/1300 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 SUNY-ESF SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (38%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (37%)
  • Architecture (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Construction Trades (4%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 SUNY-ESF SU
Graduation Rate 66% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $204 $258

Diversity

 SUNY-ESF SU
% Men 49% 32%
% Women 51% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 59%
% Black 1% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 13%

Students

 SUNY-ESF SU
% In-State 76% 52%
% Out-of-State 23% 48%

Campus

 SUNY-ESF SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (4,260 students vs. 1,976 students)

SUNY-ESF vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY-ESF or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 377.9% more expensive to attend than SUNY-ESF for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.5% higher at SU than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($33,790.00 vs. $18,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than SU ($20,928 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 54.1% lower than costs at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($11,230 vs. $17,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 169.3% larger than aid received SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($23,467 vs. $8,713)

SUNY-ESF vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY-ESF or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or SUNY-ESF .

  • The average SAT score at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (1215) is 210 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming SUNY-ESF students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SUNY-ESF students have at the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at SU (3.7)
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than SUNY-ESF (69.5%)

SUNY-ESF vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SUNY-ESF or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and SUNY-ESF.

  • The graduation rate at SUNY-ESF is higher than Shenandoah University (66% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $2,100 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $46,200)
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,000)
  • SUNY-ESF graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($204 vs. $258)
  • More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/