SUNY at Fredonia Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

This article exists to help with that first part of the journey: understanding what SUNY at Fredonia, in New York, is, using the data that the United States government itself publishes about it. It is not the complete map for your family’s decision. It is one of the three pieces you need to put that map together: what the university actually is. Only you have the other two: what your child wants and what your family can afford.

Let’s take it slowly, chapter by chapter, like someone checking a map before a long trip.

What Kind of University Is SUNY at Fredonia?

Let’s start with the basics. SUNY at Fredonia is a public institution offering programs of four years or more, located in the village of Fredonia, in Chautauqua County, New York. The federal system that classifies colleges and universities in the United States, known as Carnegie, describes it as a master’s university with smaller programs: it offers bachelor’s degrees as well as graduate programs, but its historical profile places it among master’s institutions, not research doctoral institutions.

That same system, using data from several years ago, describes it as a medium-sized, highly residential four-year school: at that time, at least half of its degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time. Living on campus, however, is not the same as paying tuition. Room and board are charged separately, and we will return to that later.

Carnegie also places it among institutions that enroll many transfer students. If your child is thinking of coming here after attending another college or university, this is exactly what you need: before enrolling, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not. The label says that many transfer students enroll; it does not say how many credits they bring or how many they lose in the move. You have to ask about that.

As for the location: the area around the campus is a town setting, far from large cities. It is not within an urban area. If your family does not live nearby, this truly matters: calculate separately where your child would live, and do not assume that “near New York” means near New York City. The code identifying the campus as being in a town says only that—where the school is located; it does not say where your family lives or how long the trip between the two places takes.

One last piece of its identity, and this matters more than it may seem: SUNY at Fredonia does not appear under any of three special federal designations. It is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in the federal directory, 138 carry at least one of those three labels; this one does not. That does not say which students it serves, how many Latino students are on campus, or how your child will feel there. Not having the label does not mean that it does not serve that community, nor does it mean the opposite. Ask directly about that: which cultural centers and student organizations exist today and, better yet, find out by talking with someone who already attends the school.

The School’s Size and Who Else Will Be There

SUNY at Fredonia had 3,220 students enrolled in the most recent official count. It is a medium-sized school, within the range of 1,000 to 4,999 students. Compared with the 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools that make up this analysis’s comparison group, it is on the smaller side: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, have more students.

Of that total, 2,877 are undergraduate students and 343 are graduate students. Above all, this is an undergraduate institution, not a graduate school.

And who makes up that community? Out of every 100 undergraduate students, 11 are Hispanic or Latino. This is a small minority, although compared with the 519 similar schools in this census, it is above the group’s midpoint without reaching the top quartile. To put it plainly for a Latino family: there are few Latino students here. That does not remove the school from the list, but it does raise a question worth asking during a visit: what specifically exists for Latino students—a student group, a cultural center, or someone in the office who speaks Spanish?

There are more women than men among undergraduates: 58 out of every 100 students are women. There are almost no adult students: only 3 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old. And the vast majority come from New York: out of every 100 entering students, 93 reported a permanent address in the same state when they applied. That figure covers only first-time entering students, not the entire campus, and the address reported is not the same as the tuition classification the university will use when billing you. If your family lives outside New York, ask directly which rate and requirements would apply to you.

Being large does not mean more options for your child. Being small does not mean more attention. What really matters should be asked about the specific major, not the school as a whole.

How the Academic Year Works and How Broad the Offerings Are

SUNY at Fredonia’s calendar is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The institution reports that it accepts credit from AP exams, but it did not indicate that it awards credit for life experience. It also reports enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program and accepting credit for military training.

The fact that the school says it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam at every score. The report does not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits will count toward your child’s specific major. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before your child enrolls. Do not calculate any savings until you have it in hand.

As for what students study: in the most recent year reported, the university awarded 839 bachelor’s degrees across 21 fields of study. No single field accounts for a large share: the largest, visual and performing arts, represented only 20 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. The offerings are broad and distributed, with no single area dominating. But 21 fields represented in the report do not mean 21 specific majors or 21 active listings in the current catalog: a field groups multiple programs and may include rows with zero awards. Verify the exact program your child is interested in by its actual name.

Regarding the relationship between students and faculty: the official ratio is 11 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member. Compared with the 519 similar schools in the census, it falls in the bottom quartile: its ratio is lower than that of three out of every four similar schools. It is a low aggregate number, but by itself it does not show that more staff are available to each student or indicate the actual size of first-year classes. Once again, ask about that directly.

The institution also reports structured academic opportunities worth knowing about: study abroad, undergraduate research outside the classroom, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, noncredit developmental education, preparation for teacher certification, and state approval of its initial teacher-certification program.

Getting into SUNY at Fredonia: What It Requires and How Likely It Is to Say Yes

This is where many families feel the most anxiety, so let’s look at the exact numbers.

SUNY at Fredonia does not have open admission: it reviews several components before saying yes. Of the nine admission considerations evaluated in this report, it marks four as required: the high school transcript, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory coursework the university requires, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. If your child studied outside the United States or completed high school in Spanish, ask now whether that exam applies and what would qualify for an exemption. This is one of those things people discover too late if they do not ask in time.

Other components are not required, but they are considered if submitted: class rank, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency test, and work experience. The report does not say how much weight each one carries in the final decision.

The undergraduate application fee is $50.

Now, the question every family wants answered first: how likely is it that the school will say yes? In the most recent cycle reported, SUNY at Fredonia received 5,941 first-year applications and offered admission to 4,705 applicants. That is 79 out of every 100. It is an accessible admission rate, although compared with the 519 schools in the comparison group, it falls near the middle, slightly below the midpoint. Put plainly: this school receives thousands of applications, yet 8 out of every 10 applicants are admitted. Your child has a real reason to apply, as well as a reason to complete the application carefully and on time. But remember that this percentage comes from a single cycle, not a fixed rule at the school: if more students apply in your child’s year and the number of available places does not increase, the figure could fall. Check it again when the time comes.

Here is a figure that often surprises people: out of every 100 admitted students, only 14 ultimately enrolled. In other words, out of every 7 admitted students, roughly 1 ended up enrolling there. Compared with its peers, the school is on the lower side for enrollment yield. Do not read that as a mark against the school: the fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean the school is bad, and the federal record does not explain why each person made that decision. What others did does not tell you what the school will offer your child. What does matter is waiting for the letter showing your actual net price and then, with that number in hand, deciding whether this school stays on the list.

Regarding standardized tests: SUNY at Fredonia reported that the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if your child does not, the application remains active just the same. Out of every 100 enrolled first-year students, only 4 submitted SAT scores, one of the lowest shares among similar universities. The small group that did submit scores—a total of 25 students—scored between 520 and 650 in reading and writing and between 540 and 640 in math within the middle half. With such a small sample, those numbers should not be treated as a threshold that must be reached or as a guarantee if they are reached. Almost no one submits scores here, and that fact is itself information.

And for students thinking about transferring out: among the bachelor’s-degree-seeking class that entered in 2017, 31 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing their degree here. This proportion is on the high side compared with similar universities. The report does not give the reason for any of those transfers, and there is something important that almost no one notices: a student who transfers does not count as a graduate of this school, even if that student finishes the degree elsewhere. Keep that in mind when we discuss graduation rates later.

The Published Price and the Price Students Actually Pay

At SUNY at Fredonia, among 98 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000, the average net price was $9,524. Among 102 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $15,522; among 160 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $20,350. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.

The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (98 students) and the average for the highest-income band (160 students) is $10,826. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $15,830.

The advertised price is not the same as the price students pay. Here, for students with low incomes, the average net price was $9,524 in the 2022-23 academic year.

The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received grants or scholarships from federal, state, local, or institutional sources; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.

Where the Money to Pay Comes From: Grants, Loans, and Options

Out of every 100 degree-seeking students at SUNY at Fredonia, 81 received a grant or other aid that does not have to be repaid, with an annual average of $8,630 among recipients. And 38 out of every 100 received the federal Pell Grant, intended for students from families with demonstrated financial need. These are two different calculations: one says how many students received aid, while the other says how much each recipient received. They should not be multiplied together.

Now for the other side of the equation: 66 out of every 100 undergraduate students took out a federal student loan, with an annual average of $6,321 among borrowers. Compared with similar universities, SUNY at Fredonia is among those with the highest shares of students borrowing: at least nine out of ten similar schools had an equal or lower share.

Financing an education with debt is common here, not the exception. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of the degree, the total would be around $25,284, not including interest. That is a number worth deciding on before the first signature, not at the end. That average, however, covers only federal loans taken out in the student’s name during one year: it does not include separate loans taken out by parents, bank debt, credit cards, or the total debt someone has upon graduation.

The fact that borrowing is common here does not determine whether your child will need to borrow. That depends on the specific financial-aid letter and the difference between the actual net price and what your family can afford. If debt appears in that letter, ask for an estimate of the monthly payment before accepting anything.

The university also reports two ways to manage payment: an installment tuition-payment plan and participation in a Promise-type program.

Campus Life: Where Your Child Would Live and What Else Is Available

SUNY at Fredonia has institutionally controlled housing, with a reported capacity of 2,936 students. It does not require all first-time, full-time students to live there, although that does not mean a particular program cannot impose that requirement in your child’s case. It also offers meal plans, including a large plan with a fixed number of meals per week. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available when your child requests one. Ask in writing for this year’s rate, the housing-application deadline, and whether your child is guaranteed a place or would be placed on a waiting list.

Regarding ROTC: the university did not mark any ROTC opportunity in its most recent report, either general ROTC or any of the three specific branches. Among the four-year colleges and universities in this guide, 926 out of 1,786 did mark such an opportunity; this institution was not among them. If your child’s plan depends on that scholarship or career path, ask the admissions office directly: this field reports what was marked, not everything that may exist.

In athletics, SUNY at Fredonia competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported participation in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. That information does not identify every current team, the division in which each sport competes, or whether athletic scholarships are awarded. If this matters to your child, contact the coach of the relevant sport directly.

Regarding online education: it is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, although in practice only 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes at a distance; the other 99 take at least one class in person. The university also reports offering at least one program in which all courses can be completed remotely, without specifying whether that program is undergraduate or graduate. Confirm the exact credential level and program if this interests your child.

The library operates with paid staff, has physical and digital materials, and participates in interlibrary lending. The services and support the institution reports include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services after program completion, on-campus child care, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and their families, a student veterans’ organization, and a services webpage for people with disabilities. The fact that these services are reported does not say how many people use them or how effective they are for each student; ask about that during the visit.

Do They Stay? Do They Graduate? What the Outcome Figures Say

Now we reach the questions that truly keep a mother or father awake at night: if my child enrolls here, will they finish?

First, do they stay after the first year? Of the most recent class of first-time, full-time students, 76 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already completed their bachelor’s degree one year later. That proportion is slightly above the midpoint among similar universities: neither among the best nor among the worst, but right in the middle. Two things that number does not say: it does not separate those who remained enrolled from those who had already graduated, and not returning to this school is not the same as dropping out of college. Someone who transferred to another university and continues studying there is counted the same way in this figure as someone who left school entirely.

And do they graduate? Among first-time, full-time students who entered a bachelor’s degree program in 2017, 600 out of 1,122 had earned a degree from this school six years later. That is 53 out of every 100, nearly half and half. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 40 out of every 100. Compared with similar universities, it is above the group’s midpoint.

After six years, slightly more than half of that class had earned a bachelor’s degree from this school, while slightly less than half had not earned one here. The report counts outcomes, not the reasons behind each case. Remember something from the previous chapter: someone who transferred to another school and completed a degree there does not appear as a graduate in this figure, even though that student completed their studies elsewhere. Before making a decision based on this figure alone, ask what specific support the school offers and how long it typically takes to complete the particular major your child is considering.

A broader look, after eight years. Following a larger cohort that includes students who entered full time and part time, 64 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school eight years later. Among those who specifically received a Pell Grant, that proportion falls to 58 out of every 100, ten points below the group that did not receive Pell. Compared with similar universities, it is also above the group’s midpoint.

If your family qualifies for Pell today, this historical difference does not determine your child’s outcome. What is worth asking the school directly is what specifically exists for those students: whether they have an assigned counselor, whether emergency assistance is available, and whether institutional aid is renewed each year. And ask for the answer in writing.

What You Know Now and What Is Still Yours to Decide

You have reached this point with a fairly complete picture of what SUNY at Fredonia actually is, according to its own reports to the federal government: a medium-sized public university in a New York town, with relatively accessible admission but few of its admitted students ultimately enrolling there, a substantial published price but a notably lower net price for modest-income families, a high rate of students financing their education with loans, and graduation outcomes of around half of each class within the standard time frame.

None of these numbers makes the decision for you. The admission rate does not say whether your child will be happy there. The average net price is not the letter your particular family will receive. The graduation rate does not predict the effort or story of a particular student. Institutional averages describe a large group; they never describe a single person before that person acts.

What you can do with this information is exactly what a responsible adult does with a map: use it to avoid missing an exit because you did not know it was there. Now you know what to ask during the visit, what to request in writing before signing, and which figure in this guide should be compared with the actual letter that arrives at your home.

This article thoroughly covers only one of the plan’s three parts: what the university is. It does not cover what your child wants to study or where they imagine their life leading, and it does not cover what your family can and is willing to pay. Once you bring all three together, you will have not a promise, but a real plan.

Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by SUNY at Fredonia to the United States Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as well as the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Best College Aid does not represent SUNY at Fredonia or any agency of the United States government; this article organizes and explains public figures to help families understand them.