First-Year General Admission Requirements

We review all general admission applications based on four components:

  • Official high school transcript.
  • An essay as part of the Common Application or the SUNY Application.
  • A letter of recommendation from the guidance counselor or an academic teacher.
  • Extracurricular activities & involvement (including, but not limited to, jobs, athletic teams, clubs, volunteer positions).

If unable to submit materials electronically, official copies may be sent to:

State University of New York at New Paltz
Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561

Given the large number of applications, SUNY New Paltz does not honor requests for individual interviews.

Required High School Coursework

A college preparatory program containing the five core subject areas:  

  • 4 units of English
  • 3-4 units of social sciences/history
  • 3-4 units of college prep mathematics (select majors require Algebra II/Trigonometry for admission)
  • 3-4 units of science
  • 2-4 units of a language other than English

Average High School GPA

Our review of an applicant's academic work will be by academic year so that we can get a clear, year-by-year picture of achievement and motivation throughout the course of the applicant's high school career.

Weighted high school averages: As so many high schools use weighted averages, we will recalculate the overall average in accordance with the high school profile.  We use only the five core subjects when recalculating the average.

Is the SAT/ACT required?

SUNY New Paltz is currently SAT/ACT optional, unless applying to an accelerated medical program (see below). Application review will focus on the strength of the high school coursework taken, the grades achieved in academic course work, letters of recommendation, the extracurricular activities, as well as the structure and quality of the student essay.

Accelerated medical programs: Students applying for the accelerated 3+4 Osteopathic Medical Programs and the accelerated 3+4 Optometry Program will be required to submit either the SAT or the ACT test score to be considered for admission into these programs.

Apply to SUNY New Paltz

Complete either the Common Application or the SUNY Application. The $50 application fee is non-refundable.

Application Due Dates

Completed applications must be received by the dates below1:

  • Spring General Freshman Admission: December 1
  • Fall General Freshman Admission: May 1
  • Early Action2: November 15
  • Accelerated 3+4 Osteopathic Medical Programs: January 15
  • Accelerated 3+4 Optometry Program: January 15
  • Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): May 1

Home School & Online High School Information

New Paltz accepts home-schooled students. Visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission's Home School Information page for details about the application process.

The New York State Department of Education does not consider New York State residents who enroll in online correspondence high school programs of study to be "home schooled."

Veterans & Military Service Members

Veterans or military service members and/or their spouses and children should contact the Office of Veteran & Military Services at 845-257-3074 or OVMS@newpaltz.edu for further information.

1

SUNY New Paltz reserves the right to alter due dates at any time without prior notification to applicants.

2

Students who wish to be considered for Early Action admission must have the application and required application materials received and completed by November 15.

Please be aware that EOP applicants are not eligible to apply for Early Action.

Transfer Students: General Admission Requirements

A student who has taken course work at an accredited college (other than SUNY New Paltz) after high school graduation is considered a transfer student.

Preliminary Transfer Admission Consideration

  • A 2.75 minimum grade point average (GPA). If the applicant has attended more than one college, the combined GPA from all previous colleges must be at least 2.75.
  • For applicants with less than 45 completed credits, the high school academic record will be considered as well.
  • Applicants with less than 45 completed credits may either apply to a major or apply as "Undeclared."
  • Applicants with 45 or more completed credits must apply directly to a major. "Undeclared" is not an option.

Transfer Application Process

  • Submit the SUNY Application or the Common Application. The $50 application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. The SUNY Application fee is waived for SUNY or CUNY associate degree holders. The Common Application fee is not waived for SUNY or CUNY associate degree holders.
  • Submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Admission:
    • Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended (if international transcripts, see below);
    • Official, final high school transcript or GED/TASC (as required by the NYS Education Department);
    • Official score reports for AP, IB, and CLEP exams taken in high school.

If unable to submit materials electronically, official copies may be sent to:

State University of New York at New Paltz
Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561

International Transcripts

We require that transfer students obtain an evaluation of their non-US university transcript(s) from a credential evaluation service that is a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES). Visit NACES' website for more information about these services. The evaluation services that are most commonly used are The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran), World Education Services and Educational Credential Evaluators. Evaluations must be course-by-course evaluations showing all coursework, grades received and cumulative GPA.

Official documents can be emailed to admissions@newpaltz.edu or mailed to the Office of Undergraduate Admission at the address above.

Transfer Admission to Specific Majors3

Transfer students are encouraged to consult the SUNY Transfer Paths for their major of interest. These plans summarize the common lower-division requirements for each major that prepare students for the upper-division courses in the major.

  • Art: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a portfolio approved by the Art Department. Contact the department for details.
  • Adolescence Education: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (1 composition course) with a grade of B or better. The following additional requirements apply to students in specific Adolescence Education content areas:
    • Adolescence Education - Biology: Successful completion of General Biology I and II and General Chemistry I and II with a grade of C- or better.
    • Adolescence Education - Chemistry: Successful completion of General Chemistry I and II with a grade of C- or better.
    • Adolescence Education - Mathematics: Successful completion of either Calculus I or Calculus II with a grade of B- or better.
    • Adolescence Education - Physics: Successful completion of General Physics I and II with a grade of C - or better.
  • Biochemistry: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of General Chemistry I and II and College Algebra (or a higher-level math course) with a grade of C- or better.
  • Biology: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, and Precalculus (or a higher-level math course) with a grade of C- or better.
  • Business (all programs): A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Though not required for admission, completion of Precalculus or the New Paltz equivalent is highly recommended to be eligible for access to junior-level Business courses, which will facilitate timely degree completion.
  • Chemistry: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of General Chemistry I and II and College Algebra (or a higher-level math course) with a grade of C- or better.
  • Communication Disorders: For Fall 2026, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; effective Spring 2027, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of Survey of Communication Disorders with a grade of B- or better.
  • Deaf Studies: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of Deaf Culture & Heritage with a grade of C- or better. Though not required for admission, completion of Elementary American Sign Language 1 and Elementary American Sign Language 2 is highly recommended.
  • Early Childhood & Childhood Education: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (1 composition course) with a grade of B or better.
    • Early Childhood & Childhood Education - Mathematics Concentration: In addition to the above requirements, successful completion of Calculus I with a grade of C- or better.
  • General Studies (interdisciplinary degree-completion program, available fully online): A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and at least 60 college credits or an associate's degree.
  • Graphic Design: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a successful portfolio review. ​Please note: The Graphic Design major admits applicants for the fall semester only and has an application deadline of April 1.
  • Mathematics: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and successful completion of either Calculus I or Calculus II with a grade of B- or better.
  • Music: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a successful music audition/interview with the Music Department. Contact the department for details.
  • Psychology: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, successful completion of General Psychology with a grade of C or better, and successful completion of a SUNY General Education mathematics course with a grade of C or better.
  • Theatre Arts: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a successful theatre audition/interview with the Theatre Arts Department. Contact the department for details.
  • Visual Arts Education: A minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a portfolio approved by the Art Department. Contact the department for details.
  • Most majors in the School of Science & Engineering require, at minimum, successful completion of College Algebra for consideration. As noted above, Biology requires a minimum completion of Precalculus, and Mathematics requires a minimum completion of Calculus.

Transfer Application Due Dates4

  • Fall enrollment: April 1 for Graphic Design only; May 1 for all other majors
  • Spring enrollment: December 1
3

SUNY New Paltz reserves the right to change admission criteria for specific majors without notice.

4

SUNY New Paltz reserves the right to change application due dates without notice.

Admission Communications

The Office of Undergraduate Admission at SUNY New Paltz uses email as its official method of communication. In order to ensure that you receive all communications related to your application, make sure that the email address provided on the application is correct, and add admissions@newpaltz.edu to your address book to avoid application-related emails being sent to spam/junk folders.