SUNY-ESF vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 2,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 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: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 14:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

SUNY-ESF vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY-ESF 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than SUNY Cortland ($19,814 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 13.9% lower than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($15,560 vs. $18,080).
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $429 more per year; $9,303.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at SUNY-ESF than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $3,479 more per year; $22,263.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than at State University of New York at Cortland (96% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students is 5.4% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($8,699 vs. $8,254).

SUNY-ESF vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY-ESF 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 SUNY-ESF.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (1220) is 50 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
• Incoming SUNY-ESF students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1130/1300; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 24/30; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY-ESF - Test-free; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY-ESF students have the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at SUNY Cortland (3.7).
• SUNY-ESF has a higher acceptance rate (63.3%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at SUNY-ESF vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

SUNY-ESF vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY-ESF 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (66%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, SUNY-ESF graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Cortland graduates ($204 vs. $222).
• More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Cortland students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.