The State University of New York College at Geneseo–also referred to as SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo State College, or just Geneseo–is a public institution for higher learning located in Geneseo, New York. The school belongs to the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Founded in 1871, it started out as the Wadsworth Normal and Training School before being recognized as a state liberal arts college in 1948.
SUNY at Geneseo commonly goes by the nicknames “The Harvard on the Hill” and “Ivy of the SUNY’s.” The school offers a diverse range of programs, along with an outstanding study-abroad program that is associated with the program Mediterranean Roots. This program allows students to take a course in the countries Italy and Greece for five weeks.
SUNY Geneseo Acceptance Rate
As of 2017, Geneseo’s acceptance rate is 72%. The school is known for being extremely competitive but still adopts a holistic approach to admissions. Every applicant is evaluated using all important information submitted. Undergraduate applicants are required to submit official high school transcripts, the Secondary School Report, the application (either the Common Application or the SUNY application with the Geneseo supplement), the designated fee, SAT and/or ACT scores, and an optional but highly suggested parent statement.
Admitted Students Profile
SUNY at Geneseo has a student population of 5,588 and a student/faculty ratio of 19:1. The average class size in the school is 25. In terms of racial diversity, the enrolled student population is 74.9% White, 7.39% Hispanic or Latino, 6.32% Asian, 2.91% Black or African American, 2.71% Two or More Races, 0.179% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0179% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.
Almost 90% of Geneseo’s full-time faculty has a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. Geneseo is also ranked 1st in the nation’s four-year graduation rates among comprehensive colleges.
Tuition Figures
The undergraduate tuition and fees of SUNY College at Geneseo amount to $8,651 for New York residents and $18,431 for out of state students. For graduate students, the tuition costs are $11,999 (in-state) and $23,559 (out of state).
SUNY at Geneseo provides financial assistance to students in need in the form of need-based and merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Students need to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid in order to qualify for these programs.
The school starts receiving information about financial aid in early March. They will then deliver a packet with information about the grant and notice of acceptance. Due to the short time frame, students are encouraged to complete their FAFSA as early as possible.
Location
SUNY Geneseo is located on the eastern side of the Genesee Valley. Out of the roughly 5,000 fulltime residents of Geneseo, an estimated 70% either work at or affiliated in some way with the college. This is the reason why Geneseo is widely considered a so-called “college town.”
The campus is divided between the Academic Quad, “North Side” and “South Side.” All academic buildings are found within the Academic Quad, while the South Side is made up of five residence halls and a dining hall.
The SUNY at Geneseo campus is laid out in the same form as the New York State. Almost all residence halls are named after the state’s counties. However, not everything is placed inline within the same geography.
Academics
SUNY at Geneseo offers over 60 baccalaureate majors in mostly liberal arts subjects. The school also lets students take three pre-professional degrees that include pre-medicine, pre-law, and pre-veterinarian.
There are also cooperative degrees that enable students to obtain master’s degrees and even doctorates through accelerated programs. These programs begin at SUNY Geneseo and end with the student finishing the program at a SUNY graduate school.
Additionally, there is an ROTC program and a cross-registration program with Rochester colleges. Geneseo students can take up to two courses each semester at no additional charge at any Rochester Area College Consortium.
Geneseo belongs to the New York Space Grant Consortium, meaning the school is provided grants by NASA to support outer-space related research on-campus. Because of this partnership, Geneseo is recognized as a “space-grant” institution.
SUNY at Geneseo is an extremely competitive institution and slots fill in quickly. However, there are certain programs dedicated to students who want to be in Geneseo but failed to make it in their preferred semester.
Through the guaranteed admission program, the most ideal students who are on the “select” waitlist are guaranteed admission during the next term. This is done with the only condition being that if they decide to attend another college during the first term, they should be able to maintain a minimum GPA.
Students who belong in this bracket will also be given an invitation on a first-come, first-served basis to attend the Siena Bridge Program of the school and head to Siena, Italy to study for the first term.
Student Life
Besides having an excellent curriculum, SUNY Geneseo offers an exciting student life. The campus is filled with adventure and fun for everyone. There are many student clubs and organizations, on-campus living facilities, and an active Greek life that encourages a tight-knight community.
Students at SUNY Geneseo can participate in a wide array of diverse activities and organizations. These include WGSU, a federally-licensed radio station; five acclaimed a cappella groups (Southside Boys, Exit 8, Hips & Harmony, Emmelodics, and Between the Lines); a nationally competitive Federal Reserve Challenge club; Musical Theatre Club; Currently Known As (an improvisation group); The Lamron, an independent student newspaper published since 1922; Geneseo Student Television (GSTV); and an award-winning Model United Nations team.
Athletics
The SUNY at Geneseo Knights is a member of the NCAA Division III athletics organization that regularly competes in the State University of New York Athletic Conference. There are various intercollegiate sports teams offered by the college, including men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, and track & field.
Male students have the option to play ice hockey while women have additional options like equestrian competition, field hockey, softball, and volleyball. The official Knights team colors are blue and white. Aside from varsity sports, SUNY at Geneseo allows students to take several different intramural sports.
Notable Alums
SUNY Geneseo has been proudly called home by many notable alumni. Graduates of the SUNY school have gone on to excel in their respective careers in different fields. Below are some of SUNY Geneseo’s most popular graduates:
- Tyler Brickler, professional ice hockey player
- Jenna Wolfe, anchor of NBC’s Weekend Today
- Howard Blumenthal, author; creator/producer, PBS series “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”
- Chelsea Noble (formerly Nancy Mueller) film and TV actress, sister of the Clionian sorority
- William Sadler, an actor best known for his roles in The Shawshank Redemption and Roswell
- T. The Brick, Fox Sports Radio talk-show host.
- Curt Smith, author, broadcaster and Republican speechwriter for President George H. W. Bush
- Brittany Lauda, voice actress and director for anime and video games, notable for HuniePop and Ladies versus Butlers
- CGP Grey, a popular YouTube creator, and web personality
- Gregg ‘Opie’ Hughes, former radio broadcaster, of ‘Opie and Anthony’
- David Bullwinkle, CFO of Kodak.
- Jeff Clarke, CEO of Kodak
- Jackie Norris, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama
- Amy Collins, CEO of New Shelves book publishing
- Ray Kotcher, non-executive chairman and advisor to Ketchum Inc.
- Joseph D. Morelle, New York State Assembly Majority Leader, 2013–present
- Raymond Walter, New York State Assemblyman, 146th district
