

Brockport, NYpublicbrockport.edu
Admit rate has ranged 55%–76% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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.
SUNY Brockport is a public liberal arts college in western New York that operates like a well-oiled, accessible machine for career-minded students. It’s a place where a broad, practical curriculum—heavy on education, business, and health professions—meets a classic residential campus experience, all delivered at a notably low net price. The vibe is unpretentious and community-focused, with a student body that’s more likely to be found at a Division III game or a club meeting than chasing Ivy League prestige.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
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.
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.
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.
Brockport’s admissions process is straightforward and moderately selective, designed to be accessible within the SUNY system. The university reports a freshman that has fluctuated between approximately 58% and 76% in recent years, with the most recent figure landing at 71%. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1100–1280, and the ACT range is 23–26. Academic performance in high school is a primary factor; among admitted students, 22% had a GPA of 3.75 or higher, 11% were in the 3.50–3.74 range, and another 11% were in the 3.25–3.49 range. The regular application deadline is August 1, and SAT or ACT scores are required for fall-term admission. Notably, the rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—has trended downward in recent years, from 20.3% to 14.2%, indicating that many admitted students choose other options. The admissions office can be reached at [email protected].
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.
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.
Compare on earnings: best colleges for Nursing · best colleges for Computer Science · best colleges for Information Technology · best colleges for Mathematics · best colleges for Marketing · best colleges for Accounting
Brockport offers a classic, comprehensive undergraduate education with a distinctly practical bent. Students can choose from over 100 undergraduate majors and 65 minors, alongside more than 65 graduate programs. The curriculum provides flexibility for exploration, but the most popular majors reveal a focus on direct career pathways: Education (19%), Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (13%), and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology (12%). Communication, Journalism, and related programs also rank highly. The university structures some programs as accelerated pathways, such as a combined Bachelor of Science in Biology leading to Adolescence Education certification. To graduate, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, as well as a 2.0 average in their major courses.
Life at Brockport centers on a traditional, self-contained campus in the village of Brockport, about 20 miles west of Rochester. The residential experience is split, with 44% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 56% living off campus. The university promotes an active, engaged community with "endless opportunities" for students to get involved through clubs and organizations. Student life features creative outlets like a campus newspaper, drama productions, radio, television, and chorus. The campus is described as beautiful and well-maintained, with facilities that support recreation, wellness, health, counseling, and campus safety. Guided tours are offered Monday through Friday from the main campus address at 350 New Campus Drive.
Brockport’s outcomes reflect its role as a public institution focused on accessibility and upward mobility. The graduation rate for a recent cohort shows 52% graduated within two years, 70% within three years, and 76% within four years. Other data points indicate a six-year graduation rate of 58.5% for a past cohort and a current rate of 67%. Post-graduation earnings vary significantly by major, illustrating the economic value of its professional programs: Dance graduates earn roughly $22,152, Fine and Studio Arts majors make about $27,592, and History majors report average earnings near $23,999. Broader data shows median earnings five years after graduation are approximately $54,638 per year. The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 is Male and Asian students, at 71.4%.
Affordability is a central pillar of Brockport’s value proposition as a SUNY school. The average —the cost after aid and scholarships—is $16,353. A significant majority (86%) of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid. For New York State residents, tuition is $7,070, with fees adding $1,682, bringing the direct cost to $8,752. When combined with estimated costs for housing ($9,350), food ($2,000), and other expenses, the total estimated yearly cost for a resident is $29,198. Financial aid packages commonly include federal grants (45% of students receive them, averaging $5,430) and state/local grants (58% of students, averaging $4,088). A key state program, the Excelsior Scholarship, covers tuition for families with an annual income under $125,000. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for early estimates and encourages students to contact the Financial Aid Office at (585) 395-2501 or [email protected].
Brockport distinguishes itself by delivering a classic, full-service public university experience—complete with a broad academic catalog, residential campus life, and robust student activities—at a price point that remains within reach for many New York families. It’s not a hyper-selective institution, and it doesn’t pretend to be; instead, it excels at providing clear, pragmatic pathways from education to employment, particularly in fields like teaching, business, and health sciences. The Excelsior Scholarship dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for in-state students, making a four-year degree a realistic goal. The campus culture is active and supportive, focused on community engagement rather than cutthroat competition. For students seeking a solid return on investment without the debt burden or extreme pressure of more prestigious schools, Brockport represents a sensible, grounded choice in the SUNY system.