Research.com
University at Albany logo

University at Albany

#74 in US ranking Albany, NY
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

University at Albany award
University at Albany award

Cost

Cost / year
$30,376
Tuition & fees
$10,866
Avg. aid
$10,246
Receiving aid
98%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
69%
Avg. SAT
1185
Avg. ACT
26

Outcomes

Graduation rate
61%
Median salary
$42,610
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of University at Albany?

University at Albany is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole, including areas such as educational quality, governance, and student support; it is distinct from approval of an individual major.

Some professional programs also hold field-specific accreditation. For example, business programs are associated with AACSB accreditation, public health with the Council on Education for Public Health, and social work with the Council on Social Work Education. Applicants to a licensed profession should verify the accreditation and state licensing requirements for their specific degree, since university-wide accreditation alone does not establish eligibility for a professional license.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid. It can also matter when seeking graduate admission or transferring credit, although another institution decides which credits it will accept.

What are the admission requirements at University at Albany?

First-year applicants to University at Albany generally submit a SUNY Application or Common Application, a secondary-school record, and the supporting materials required for their application route. A high school diploma or recognized equivalency is expected for degree-seeking admission. Academic performance and the rigor of completed coursework are important parts of review.

The university is not open-admission: in the reported entering class, about 69% of first-year applicants were admitted. That rate describes an earlier applicant pool, not an individual applicant's chances. Recommendation and essay requirements should be checked against the instructions for the chosen application and entry term. Some majors may have additional expectations.

SAT and ACT policies have changed across SUNY application cycles. Applicants should confirm whether scores are optional for their intended entry term and whether a particular program has a separate requirement; optional scores should not be mistaken for a universal requirement. Applicants educated primarily in a language other than English may also need to document English proficiency through an accepted test or qualifying exemption. Deadlines and document requirements can differ for first-year, transfer, international, and graduate applicants.

What are the application fees and waivers at University at Albany?

The standard undergraduate application fee reported for University at Albany is $50. This is an application charge, not an enrollment deposit, and applicants using the SUNY Application should account for fees assessed per campus selected.

Eligible applicants may be able to request a fee waiver through SUNY, the Common Application, or an applicable university process. Routes can include demonstrated financial hardship and certain SUNY eligibility categories; the application itself identifies the documentation or certification required. Applicants should select a waiver option before submitting rather than assuming a paid fee can be refunded afterward. Graduate and specialized applications may use different fees or waiver rules.

What types of ROTC programs are available at University at Albany?

University at Albany students have access to Army ROTC activities on campus and may pursue Air Force ROTC through a cooperating institution. These arrangements are not the same: a cross-enrollment option can require travel, a separate registration process, or a schedule coordinated with the host program.

ROTC combines college coursework with military training. Scholarship eligibility, medical and fitness standards, commissioning requirements, and any resulting service obligation depend on the branch and the student's status. Interested students should establish the current host unit, class locations, and participation rules with the branch program before building an academic schedule around ROTC.

What are the requirements for transfer students at University at Albany?

University at Albany admits transfer applicants for fall and spring and reports a summer entry option. Transfer admission considers prior college coursework, academic standing, and preparation for the intended major. Applicants ordinarily submit official transcripts from every college attended; high school records may also be needed, particularly when a student has completed relatively little college work.

Admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions. A transferable course may count as elective credit without satisfying a particular major or general-education requirement. UAlbany provides transfer-planning and course-equivalency resources, and SUNY pathways can help students moving between system institutions, but an official evaluation is the basis for a student's individual degree plan. Applicants with Advanced Placement or other examination credit should submit official score reports for assessment.

Transfer students should check the deadline for their intended term and any higher standards, prerequisites, or space limits in a proposed major. Asking for a degree audit after the official credit evaluation is especially useful when estimating how many semesters remain.

What types of study abroad programs are available at University at Albany?

University at Albany offers education-abroad advising and access to programs that can include semester, year-long, summer, and shorter-term study. Depending on the destination, a student may join a UAlbany program, another SUNY program, an exchange, or an approved external program; those arrangements can have different costs and academic rules.

Students should obtain academic approval before committing to a program so they know how overseas courses will apply to their major, general education, or elective requirements. Financial aid may be usable for eligible study abroad, but its treatment depends on the program, enrollment, and aid type. Program charges, housing, travel, visas, and scholarships need to be compared together rather than against home-campus tuition alone. Early planning matters most for majors with tightly sequenced courses.

University at Albany Admissions Factors

Avg. SAT
1185
Avg. ACT
26
Acceptance rate
69%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
69%
New York
72%
US
78%

13% of admitted students enrolled (2,830 of 22,416)

University at Albany Admissions

Applicants
Total: 32,442
Admission
Total: 22,416
Enrolled
Total: 2,830
Women
Men

How to Apply to University at Albany

Application fee

$50

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

University at Albany First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 2,563
Out-of-state: 152
International: 104

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 2,828
Transfer: 1,252

University at Albany Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1185

Median composite ACT score

26

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered but not required

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

Yes

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

University at Albany Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

Recently Published Articles