Freshmen: 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 Program 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 Dates1

Completed applications must be received by the dates below:

  • Spring General Freshman Admission: December 15
  • 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
1

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

2

For Early Action admission, the application and all required application materials must be received complete by November 15. Decisions are sent via U.S. Mail by the first week of January.

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;
    • 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

Transfer Admission to Specific Majors3

Transfer students are encouraged to consult the SUNY Transfer Path 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 GPA of 2.75, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a successful portfolio review. Contact the department for details.
  • Graphic Design: A minimum GPA of 3.0, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a successful portfolio review. ​Note that Graphic Design admits students for fall entrance only.
  • Visual Arts Education: A minimum GPA of a 3.0, submission of an art statement of purpose, and a successful portfolio review. Contact the department for details.
  • Music: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a successful music audition/interview. Contact the department for details.
  • Theatre Arts: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a successful theatre audition/interview. Contact the department for details.
  • Adolescence Education: A minimum GPA of 3.0 and 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent with a grade of B or better.
    • Adolescence Education - Biology: A minimum GPA of 3.0, 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent with a grade of B or better, and a grade of C- or better in General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, and Precalculus.
    • Adolescence Education - Mathematics: A minimum GPA of 3.0, 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent with a grade of B or better, and a grade of B- or better in either Calculus I or Calculus II.
  • Biochemistry: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in General Chemistry I & II and College Algebra (minimum mathematics requirement).
  • Biology: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, and Precalculus.
  • Business (all programs): A minimum GPA of 2.75; applicants must have completed Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent, Microeconomics or Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better, and a SUNY General Education mathematics course.
    Although not required for admission, it is highly recommended that an applicant complete Precalculus or the New Paltz equivalent to be eligible for access to junior-level Business courses, which will facilitate timely degree completion.
  • Chemistry: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in General Chemistry I & II and College Algebra (minimum mathematics requirement).
  • Communication Disorders: A minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Early Childhood & Childhood Education: A minimum GPA of 3.0 and 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent with a grade of B or better.
    • Early Childhood/Childhood Education - Mathematics Concentration: A minimum GPA of 3.0, 3-4 credits in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent with a grade of B or better and, to declare the Mathematics concentration, completion of Calculus I with a grade of C- or better.
  • General Studies (interdisciplinary degree-completion program, available fully online): A minimum GPA of 2.5 and at least 60 college credits.
  • Mathematics: A minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of B- or better in either Calculus I or Calculus II.
  • Psychology: A minimum GPA of 2.75, a C or better in General Psychology, and completion of a SUNY General Education mathematics course with a grade of C or better.
  • All Majors, School of Science & Engineering: Successful completion of College Algebra is a minimum requirement for all majors within the School.

Transfer Application Due Dates4

  • Fall enrollment: May 1 (including Art/Graphic Design/Visual Arts Education portfolio)
  • Spring enrollment: December 1 (including Art/Visual Arts Education portfolio)
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.