SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry maintains a more selective admissions process than most public peers, though its position on national ranking lists has steadily slipped. In the U.S. News rankings, the college moved from 99th in 2017 to 158th in 2026. For the entering class of 2025, the school recorded an admit rate of 63.3%, which is higher than 24% of peer schools in all public comprehensive universities, meaning it rejects a larger proportion of applicants than most public institutions. At the same time, admitted students often choose other options. The college posted an undergraduate yield rate of 17.6% in 2025, higher than 28% of peer schools in the same group. This modest conversion indicates that while getting in requires competitive credentials, the university must compete heavily against rival institutions to attract admitted applicants to its specialized degree programs.

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry operates under an admission test policy where standardized tests are not considered, meaning the college is test-blind and scores are not used even if submitted. Because of this policy, recent years have no published scores or score ranges. In 2021, standardized tests were commonly submitted, with 82% of enrolling students submitting SAT scores and 36% submitting ACT scores. Without test scores in the review, admission decisions depend entirely on a student's broader academic record. High school GPA, course rigor, and sustained classroom achievement represent the primary evidence of preparation. For applicants navigating the admissions process, building a solid academic transcript with rigorous coursework and strong grades serves as the principal requirement, since testing plays no role in the evaluation.

Academic programs at the college are tightly concentrated in environmental disciplines and natural resources. Undergraduate degrees are concentrated in a small set of majors, with the top three programs accounting for 37.2% of all bachelor's graduates in 2025. The single largest undergraduate major was Conservation Biology with 59 graduates, followed closely by Environmental Biology. The institution's top-ranked discipline is its graduate program in Environmental Engineering, which ranked 65th nationally in U.S. News in 2026. Early career compensation varies by field. In 2023 earnings data, bachelor's graduates in Construction Trades, Other, led median earnings one year after graduation at $69,486, while those in Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy earned a median of $49,930. International student presence increases at higher degree levels, making up a modest share of bachelor's graduates but 56% of doctoral recipients in 2025. Students considering this institution should understand that its strengths lie in specialized ecological and environmental fields rather than standard broad disciplines.

The student body consists predominantly of domestic undergraduates, with international representation concentrated at the graduate level. In 2025, total enrollment stood at 2,757 students. Among the 418 undergraduate freshmen, White students comprised 73.2% of the cohort, while Asian students represented 3.6% and international students accounted for less than one percent. In the continuing undergraduate population, Asian students similarly accounted for 2.6%. In contrast, the graduate division exhibits much higher global representation, where international students accounted for 30.3% of all enrolled graduate students. Overall, Asian and international students remain small demographic minorities within the undergraduate student body, whereas international scholars comprise nearly one-third of the graduate school.

The student body at the college is split into two distinct age communities between the undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, the undergraduate population was dominated by traditional-age students, with those aged 18 to 19 accounting for 32.2% of enrollment and those aged 20 to 21 representing 29.1%. This concentration means undergraduate campus life primarily revolves around young adults progressing directly through their college years. By contrast, graduate students are considerably older and more professionally established. The largest graduate group consists of students aged 25 to 29, who make up 35.4% of advanced degree candidates. This demographic separation creates an undergraduate social atmosphere focused on standard collegiate milestones, while research and laboratory work draw on slightly older graduate peers.

International student presence differs markedly between degree levels, remaining small among undergraduates while flourishing in advanced study. In 2025, undergraduate international enrollment was 40 students, representing 1.7% of all undergraduates, which is higher than 36% of peer schools in all public comprehensive universities. In contrast, the graduate division enrolled 114 international students, accounting for 30.3% of all graduate students. International degree completion also climbs steadily with degree level. In 2025, international students earned a small fraction of bachelor's degrees, but comprised 56% of all doctoral recipients. At the graduate level, international scholars are especially concentrated in specialized disciplines such as Environmental Science and Paper Science and Engineering. For prospective international applicants, these patterns show that while undergraduate life is primarily domestic, the graduate research programs host a substantial international community.

Families exploring educational options in the region will find several notable institutions within easy driving distance. Directly adjacent to the campus is Syracuse University, a major private research institution ranked 72nd among national universities in 2027 and located just 0.3 kilometers away. To the south, Cornell University, an Ivy League institution ranked 14th among national universities, is situated 44.2 kilometers from campus. Students interested in prominent liberal arts colleges also have strong nearby options, including Colgate University, ranked 22nd among liberal arts colleges and located 33.9 kilometers away, and Hamilton College, ranked 14th among liberal arts colleges at a distance of 36.9 kilometers. These neighboring colleges provide diverse institutional settings and academic environments within central New York.

Campus safety records show a substantial decline in overall incidents over the past decade, with disciplinary infractions representing the bulk of reported activity. In 2025, the college recorded a crime rate per 1,000 students of 2.6, reflecting a significant drop from levels recorded nearly a decade earlier. Between 2023 and 2025, official reports were predominantly driven by campus conduct enforcement rather than violent crime. Specifically, across that three-year span, the institution logged 50 disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations and 18 disciplinary referrals for drug offenses. Incidents of serious property crime or personal violence were rare over the same timeframe, with single-digit counts across categories like motor vehicle theft and harassment. For families evaluating safety, these numbers show an environment where behavioral policy enforcement makes up the primary focus of campus reporting.