Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Oneonta, New York
70.2% Acceptance Rate
SUNY Oneonta — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
70.2%Acceptance Rate
3.45Avg GPA
1181Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$27,258Annual Cost
$60,386Grad Salary
33.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
70.2%
Avg GPA
3.45
Avg SAT
1181
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1250
ACT Middle 50%
23–28
Avg Net Price
$18,833
Need-Based Aid
33.3% receive Pell
SUNY Oneonta, established in 1889, is a premier public liberal arts college in New York's scenic Catskills region. The 250-acre campus includes the state-of-the-art Science Discovery Center. Oneonta's 'First Year Experience' program builds academic success skills.
SUNY Oneonta Acceptance Rate
SUNY Oneonta takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 70.2% each year.
What SUNY Oneonta Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 70.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.45 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.25 – 3.44
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.00
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
SUNY Oneonta Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
SUNY Oneonta follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 15 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 97 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
SUNY Oneonta reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
November 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
SUNY Oneonta GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SUNY Oneonta is 3.45. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.15–3.45 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.65–3.85.SUNY Oneonta GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.45 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.25 – 3.44
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.05 – 3.24
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.04
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- SUNY Oneonta is the only NY State school hosting a federal CAMP program for migrant/seasonal farmworker family students.
- Test-optional; roughly 70% acceptance rate; early action deadline is November 15.
- 40% of students identify as first-generation college students.
- Confirmation deposit ($100 tuition, $100 housing, or $200 both) due May 1 for admitted students.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at SUNY Oneonta
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on SUNY Oneonta's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
SUNY Oneonta Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if SUNY Oneonta is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into SUNY Oneonta Without SAT or ACT?
SUNY Oneonta considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
SUNY Oneonta Average SAT Score: 1181
The average SAT score of admitted students at SUNY Oneonta is 1181 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1181 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1250 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? SUNY Oneonta allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1090, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at SUNY Oneonta. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 540 | 620 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 550 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1181 | 1090 | 1250 |
Below 1090, you're behind most admitted students; at 1250 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into SUNY Oneonta with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of SUNY Oneonta's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
SUNY Oneonta ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at SUNY Oneonta is 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 23 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 23 | 28 |
Can I get into SUNY Oneonta with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of SUNY Oneonta's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at SUNY Oneonta.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SUNY Oneonta
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
SUNY Oneonta is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Highlight CAMP Eligibility If You Come From a Migrant/Seasonal Farmworker Family
SUNY Oneonta is the only school in New York State to host a federal CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) scholarship program for students from migrant and seasonal farmworking families - eligible students should flag this directly in outreach to admissions, since it's a narrow, easily-missed, fully distinctive support pathway not available at any other SUNY campus.
Understand the Education Major Has a Separate GPA/Rank Bar
Declaring Education as a major requires a 3.0 GPA or top-30% class rank, on top of general admission requirements - an applicant with a borderline overall GPA who wants Education specifically should address this threshold directly, since it's a program-specific requirement layered on top of, not covered by, general acceptance.
Apply by January 15 for Merit Scholarship Priority
Most SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Oneonta Foundation merit scholarships have no separate application - priority simply goes to students who apply for admission by January 15 - so treat this as a hard internal deadline even though general admission is rolling, since applying later doesn't just risk enrollment timing, it risks scholarship priority.
Leverage EOP If You're Academically Promising But Don't Meet Traditional Admission Standards
The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) admits NYS residents who show academic potential and talent but don't meet traditional admission standards, provided they demonstrate both financial and academic disadvantage - students in this situation should apply specifically through EOP rather than the standard track, since it's a genuinely different admission pathway, not just extra support after standard admission.
Expert Insight:
Because SUNY Oneonta's holistic review explicitly credits part-time employment and extracurricular breadth alongside academics, some applicants underweight the specific 16-unit college-prep coursework requirement (with minimum unit counts by subject) - meeting the holistic "spirit" of the application without the specific coursework units can still result in an incomplete academic profile flagged in review.
SUNY Oneonta Profile
Full Name
SUNY Oneonta
City
Oneonta
State
New York
ZIP Code
13820-4015
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a SUNY Oneonta Degree Worth It?
At $27,258/year against a $60,386 median graduate salary, SUNY Oneonta is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $67,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.71%.
How much does a degree from SUNY Oneonta Cost?
The sticker price is $27,258/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $18,833.
33.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 56% take federal loans at SUNY Oneonta. File your FAFSA early and list SUNY Oneonta as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a SUNY Oneonta Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $60,386. That's about 49% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than SUNY Oneonta. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as SUNY Oneonta. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than SUNY Oneonta. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at SUNY Oneonta
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SUNY Oneonta Admissions
Median graduate earnings at SUNY Oneonta run about $60,386 a year.
At about $27,258 a year, SUNY Oneonta is on the more affordable end.
About 33.3% receive a Pell Grant at SUNY Oneonta. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 70.2%, SUNY Oneonta's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at SUNY Oneonta average a 3.45 GPA.
SUNY Oneonta doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.15 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.05, SUNY Oneonta becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at SUNY Oneonta — aim above 1181, ideally within the 1090–1250 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for SUNY Oneonta is November 15. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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