Admission

We review all general admission applications based on four components:

1. Official high school transcript.
2. An essay as part of the Common Application or the SUNY Application.
3. A letter of recommendation from the guidance counselor or an academic teacher.
4. 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

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 next paragraph). 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 Medical Programs 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 1 .

Application Due Dates 2

Completed applications must be received by the dates below:

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

Starting August 1, 2022, all students at more than 500 designated public high schools across New York State can use the SUNY Application to apply to up to seven SUNY campuses for free. (See if your school is eligible.) Students at the designated schools do not need to request a fee waiver as it will be automatically applied in the SUNY Application.

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

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.
• If the applicant has less than 45 completed credits, their 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 to the Office of Undergraduate Admission official transcripts from all colleges previously attended.
• Submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admission the official, final high school transcript or GED/TASC (as required by the NYS Education Department).
• Submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admission 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 Majors 1

• Art: A minimum GPA of 2.75 (minimum 3.0 for admission to the Graphic Design B.F.A.), submission of an art statement of purpose, and a successful portfolio review. Contact the departments for details.

​ ​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 a “B” or better in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent.
  • Adolescence Education - Biology: A minimum GPA of 3.0, a “B” or better in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent, and must have completed General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, and Precalculus.
  • Adolescence Education - Mathematics: A minimum GPA of 3.0, a “B” or better in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG170) or its equivalent, and a "B-" or better in Calculus I or Calculus II.

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

  Transfer Application Due Dates 2

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

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

  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 e-mail as its official method of communication. In order to ensure that you receive all communications related to your application, make sure that the e-mail address provided on the application is correct, and add admissions@newpaltz.edu to your address book to avoid application-related e-mails being sent to spam/junk folders.