SUNY College at Potsdam — College Profile

About

As one of the oldest institutions in the SUNY system, SUNY Potsdam is best known for its long-standing tradition in teacher education and the world-renowned Crane School of Music. Beyond its acclaimed degrees in music education, performance, and music business, the college boasts strong undergraduate programs in the visual and performing arts, natural sciences, and humanities. Campus life is vibrant, creative, and close-knit, with students frequently engaging in local arts events and taking advantage of the nearby Adirondack Mountains for outdoor recreation. Notably, Potsdam students benefit from a unique four-college consortium that allows them to cross-register for courses and access facilities at neighboring schools, including Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University.

Wikipedia:The State University of New York at Potsdam is a public college in Potsdam, New York, United States. Founded in 1816, it is the northernmost member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It is composed of the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Education and Professional Studies, and the Crane School of Music.

Location

Potsdam, NY, 13676-2294 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

BTV · Burlington VT

91 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,768$18,678

Housing & food (on campus)$15,280$15,280

Books & supplies$950$950

Cost of attendance$25,083$38,400

Average net price$13,624Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$18,678

In-state: $8,768

Housing & food (on campus)$15,280

Books & supplies$950

Cost of attendance$38,400

In-state: $25,083

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $13,624

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.potsdam.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

SUNY College at Potsdam’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$16,980

Fees$1,698

Housing$9,780

Food$6,874

Books & supplies$1,000

Personal expenses$1,445

Transportation$623

Total of the above$38,400

Source: www.potsdam.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$8,623

$30–48k

$8,684

$48–75k

$14,524

$75–110k

$15,513

$110k+

$20,041

Your family's actual price → SUNY College at Potsdam net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$4,622

First-years who got one78

Source: SUNY College at Potsdam's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

47%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

33%

Back for yr 2

78%

Transferred

31%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

50% graduated · 34% transferred · 16% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$39,440

10 yrs after entry$47,866

Debt

Median at graduation$24,250

Monthly payment$257

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$27k

90th percentile$32,895

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

78%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If SUNY College at Potsdam asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 44%Women 56%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

11 : 1

Pell grant

40%

First-gen

34%

Family income

$40,619

Independent

10%

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

71%

Hispanic

12%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Ice Hockey
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$39,440

After 10 yrs

$47,866

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas121

Psychology, General60

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods52

Business Administration, Management and Operations51

Music44

Biology, General25

History20

Criminal Justice and Corrections19

Natural Resources Conservation and Research17

Communication and Media Studies17

Archeology15

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management15

English Language and Literature, General14

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness14

Fine and Studio Arts14

Public Health14

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$54M

Full-time faculty

63%

Faculty salary

$7,383/mo

Teaching spend

$17,215

per student

Federal loans

55%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (medium programs)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions