Admit rate has ranged 60%–83% 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is a hyper-specialized public institution where students live and breathe sustainability, forestry, and environmental science. With a hands-on, research-driven curriculum and access to 25,000 acres of forest land, ESF attracts eco-conscious students who want to tackle climate change head-on—while enjoying the perks of a tight-knit campus and Syracuse University's social scene.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
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
1,839
In-state tuition
$9,303
Out-of-state tuition
$22,263
Location
Syracuse, NY
Notable Fact
25,000 acres of research forests
Acceptance Rate
63-82%
Graduation Rate
76%
Early-Career Salary
$36,000
Student-Faculty Ratio
14:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$55,763
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.9×
Median debt at graduation
$11,000
Graduation rate
66%
First-year retention
87%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
45%
First-generation share
20%
Endowment / student
$26,003
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Engineering, General$55,348
Landscape Architecture$42,682
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$36,131
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$31,423
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$22,880
Zoology/Animal Biology
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
89
Summer high
78°F
Winter low
21°F
Annual rain
53.3"
Annual snow
59.6"
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
265
Scholarly works
10,014
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (Syracuse, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry cost?
At SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,952 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry enrolls approximately 1,839 undergraduate students.
Where is SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry located?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is located in Syracuse, NY.
Admissions
ESF is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 63% to 82% depending on the year and source. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students falls between 1130-1300, though the college doesn't emphasize standardized tests as heavily as environmental passion and academic fit. Notably, only 20% of students receive Federal Pell Grants, suggesting a smaller proportion of low-income enrollees compared to some SUNY peers.
Acceptance Rate: ~63-82% (varies by reporting source)
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.
$19,683
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.
ESF’s academic identity is laser-focused on environmental stewardship, offering 50+ degree programs—from forestry to environmental engineering—with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. Nearly 60% of classes have fewer than 20 students, fostering close mentorship. Standout programs include Environmental Resource Engineering (ERE) and forestry, bolstered by 25,000 acres of research forests and Syracuse University cross-registration privileges.
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Small Classes (<20 students): 59.9%
Key Facilities: 25,000 acres of forest land across eight field stations
Life at ESF blends rugged outdoor culture with Syracuse University’s urban energy. Only 32% of students live on campus, but ESF’s 40+ student clubs (like the Maple Syrup Club) and access to 300+ Syracuse University organizations keep social calendars full. The vibe is earthy and activist-leaning—think tree-planting initiatives and sustainability hackathons—with Syracuse’s bars and sports teams a short walk away.
ESF graduates enter a niche job market with 76% graduation rates (well above the national average) and 92% career placement within six months. Early-career salaries average $36,000, reflecting the public-sector and nonprofit tilt of environmental careers. The college’s 81.8% knowledge rate (grad survey participation) suggests robust alumni tracking.
As a SUNY school, ESF is relatively affordable, with a net price of $22,957 after aid. The average financial aid package is $8,105, though only 60% of students receive grants or scholarships. New York’s Excelsior Scholarship can further reduce costs for in-state students meeting income requirements.
ESF is the only SUNY school dedicated solely to environmental science, offering a rare combo of public-school affordability and specialized rigor. Its 25,000-acre outdoor classroom and Syracuse University adjacency let students geek out on dendrology by day and catch a basketball game by night. For future conservationists, it’s a pragmatic alternative to pricier private eco-schools like UVM or Middlebury.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry logo · sourceSUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Study New York · sourceCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry - SUNY · sourceSUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - Best Engineering Schools · source
