Admit rate has ranged 38%–44% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Binghamton University, the crown jewel of SUNY, combines Ivy-caliber academics with a scrappy, outdoorsy vibe. Known for punchy science programs and a fiercely loyal alumni network, it’s where overachievers go to dodge NYC tuition without sacrificing rigor—or a raucous party scene.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
14,655
In-state tuition
$10,567
Out-of-state tuition
$30,447
Acceptance Rate
39%
Notable Programs
Neuroscience, Digital Forensics, Economics
Avg Starting Salary
$73,768
First-Year Retention
90%
6-Year Graduation Rate
84%
Faculty with Terminal Degrees
93%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$80,596
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.7×
Median debt at graduation
$18,500
Graduation rate
82%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
76%
Pell (lower-income) share
49%
First-generation share
25%
Endowment / student
$15,082
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$75,921
Management Information Systems and Services$73,949
Computer Engineering$72,214
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,775
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$69,002
Industrial Engineering
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
24
Per 1,000 students
1.64
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
95
Summer high
78°F
Winter low
21°F
Annual rain
45.5"
Annual snow
45.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
413
Scholarly works
38,457
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
5.1%
Bottom → top quintile
54%
From bottom quintile
9%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Binghamton University?
Binghamton University's acceptance rate is approximately 39% (Vestal, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Binghamton University?
Admitted students at Binghamton University typically score 1340–1500 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Binghamton University cost?
At Binghamton University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,620 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Binghamton University?
Binghamton University enrolls approximately 14,655 undergraduate students.
Where is Binghamton University located?
Binghamton University is located in Vestal, NY.
Admissions
Binghamton’s Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovers around 39%, making it one of SUNY’s most selective campuses. The mid-50% SAT range for admitted students is 1300–1450 (ACT 29–33), with 90% of first-years returning for sophomore year—a retention rate that rivals many private elites. About 18% of accepted students enroll, suggesting fierce competition with peer flagships. Notably, Binghamton boasts med school acceptance rates 19% above national averages and law school rates 14% higher, a selling point for pre-professional students.
With 93% of faculty holding terminal degrees, Binghamton punches above its weight in niche strengths: digital forensics, evolutionary biology, and a creative writing program that’s a feeder for NYC publishers. The Harpur College of Arts and Sciences anchors critical theory and postcolonial studies, while the Watson College of Engineering is known for industrial and mechanical programs. Student buzz highlights standout departments:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$63,430
Finance and Financial Management Services$63,005
Accounting and Related Services$60,325
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Neuroscience: Cutting-edge research in neurodegeneration
Economics: Strong Wall Street pipeline
Biochemistry: High PhD placement rates
Reddit threads warn of a ‘sink-or-swim’ culture in STEM, where ‘the B students at Cornell would be C students here.’
Weekends swing between library grind sessions and Greek life’s ‘Animal House’ reputation—50% of students report ‘lots of options Wednesday-Saturday,’ while 12% claim ‘raging parties almost any night.’ The residential campus fosters tight-knit dorms, with traditions like the ‘Pipes of Christmas’ (a midnight bagpipe procession during finals). TikTok snow-day videos show students sledding on dining trays, while Quora posters emphasize 300+ clubs, from Bhangra dance teams to a student-run ambulance corps. One Redditor sums it up: ‘You’ll either bond over Nietzsche or Natty Light—often both.’
Binghamton’s 84% six-year graduation rate lands in the top 10% nationally, with 88.2% of grads employed or in grad school within six months. The mean starting salary is $73,768—skewed high by Wall Street-bound econ majors and Silicon Valley tech hires. Career Services tracks alumni at Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, and NASA, while 15% transfer out, often to Ivy League grad programs. The school’s secret weapon? A cult-like alumni network that dominates NYC finance and Albany politics.
In-state Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $19,998 after aid, with 46.9% of students receiving packages averaging $18,812. The financial aid subreddit reveals stark divides: some score full-tuition Excelsior Scholarships, while others juggle $25k in loans. Housing costs sting at ~$13k/year, prompting upperclassmen to flee to downtown Binghamton’s $500/month apartments. Pro tip: Donors heavily fund STEM scholarships—applying as a CS major can net an extra $5k/year.
Binghamton is SUNY’s stealth Ivy—a public university that outclasses many privates in outcomes (19% higher med school Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.) without the pretension. Its identity thrives on contradictions: a party school that produces Rhodes Scholars, a wilderness campus (the Nature Preserve has 190 acres of trails) just 3 hours from Wall Street. The ‘Bing’ brand carries weight in NYC boardrooms, where alumni favor hires from their alma mater. As one Redditor put it: ‘We’re the kids who got rejected from Cornell but will still out-earn you.’
Binghamton University logo · sourceBinghamton University named one of the nation's best colleges by U.S. News & World Report - Binghamton News · sourceBinghamton University Aerial Tour · sourceSUNY Binghamton · source
