Important Things You Should Know About Plattsburgh:

• Named among the top schools in the 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.
• The 2010 International Student Barometer, the world’s largest international student satisfaction survey, ranked SUNY Plattsburgh’s International Student Services Office the best in the world.
• Located in Plattsburgh, NY; a small, friendly city of 25,000 in northern New York State within easy driving distance of Montreal, Canada
• By all accounts, Plattsburgh is among the most beautiful and safest places in the United States
• More than 6,000 students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees, including about 350 international students from more than 60 countries
• If accepted, you will receive financial assistance based on academic achievement, country of residence, and financial need.
• If English is not your first language, you can be considered for admission through the English Bridge Program with TOEFL results as low as 450 PBT/45 IBT

Introducing SUNY Plattsburgh!

The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh is an accredited institution founded in 1889. The campus is located 100 km south of Montreal, Canada and 500 km from New York City.
From your dorm room window, you can see the Adirondack Mountains of New York, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and Lake Champlain. Our students enjoy kayaking, hiking, and swimming in the summer and ice skating, snowshoeing, and skiing in the winter.

Academic Programs and AACSB Accreditation

Plattsburgh is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Bachelor's degrees in nearly 60 academic majors are offered. Our School of Business and Economics is accredited by the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The most popular majors for international students are business, computer science, biology, chemistry, and hotel-restaurant-tourism management. An increasing number of international students are selecting liberal arts majors (for example, art - studio, communications, sociology, and psychology), as well as majors in health-related fields (for example, nursing, medical technology, and nutrition).

English as a Second Language Program (ESL)

Plattsburgh provides the English Bridge Program to help students improve their English language skills in preparation for full-time academic study. Depending on TOEFL or IELTS results, students accepted into the English Bridge Program must take ESL courses, some of which are credit-bearing toward graduation requirements. If the student's English language skills are strong enough, they may also take degree-related, credit-bearing courses at the same time. The average class size for ESL classes is five allowing much opportunity for interaction with the teacher and the other students.

Admission Requirements

Admission is competitive for both U.S. students and international students. The most important factors in the admission decision are the quality of academic courses completed by the applicant, the grades received in these courses, results on nationally standardized examinations, and level of English language proficiency. In addition, the admission committee reviews essays, recommendations, and other supporting materials submitted by applicants.

Costs and Financial Assistance

The billed cost to attend Plattsburgh and live on campus for one academic year (9 months) is approximately $28,000 USD. This amount includes the costs for tuition, housing, food, health insurance, and required fees. However, international students must expect to spend an extra $2,000 USD each year for books, transportation, entertainment, clothing and other personal expenses. The total cost of attendance, therefore, is about $30,000 USD for one academic year. All international applicants are considered for financial aid based on the information and documents provided for admission.

Calendar

An extensive orientation program for new international students is held during the week before the beginning of each semester. The orientation program helps new students initiate lifelong friendships while learning about our campus and the Plattsburgh community. Fall semester classes begin in late August and end in mid-December. Spring semester classes begin in late January and end in early May.

Student Services

The Office of International Student Services provides information, support, and activities for all enrolled international students. Services for international students include free tutoring, extended-time testing for ESL students, ESL courses, conversation partners, vacation housing, airport pick-ups, and special activities. In addition, International Student Services provides workshops and advisement about student visa policies and procedures.