About the University
SUNY Oneonta is a mid-size, four-year, public university. We offer small classes, loads of activities, guaranteed opportunities to learn by doing and an attractive cost of attendance. Nestled in the hills of Central New York, the university’s idyllic setting is ideal for study, adventure and self-discovery.
Caring is our longest-standing tradition, traced all the way back to the school’s founding in the late 1800s. Today, our growing alumni network spans the globe, advancing the values of inclusivity, service and sustainability that exemplify SUNY Oneonta.
Our Mission Statement
We nurture a community where students grow intellectually, thrive socially and live purposefully.
Though just 13 words long, our mission explains in a nutshell what we do, day in and day out.
Rankings and Statistics
SUNY Oneonta consistently gains high marks for academic quality, affordability, student life, and our beautiful campus and college-town vibes.
Career Outcomes
SUNY Oneonta grads are well prepared for life after college. By the time they hit senior year, most have been involved in at least one real-world learning experience—like completing an internship or doing research with a faculty member.
About Our Campus
A beautiful natural environment, highly rated facilities and a campus that’s just the right size make Oneonta a fantastic place to live and study. Located about halfway between Albany and Binghamton, SUNY Oneonta’s 250-acre campus is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Oneonta, offering spectacular fall foliage views.
Academic Facilities
Take a study break, do research for a paper or collaborate with classmates at our centrally located James M. Milne Library. Science facilities include well-equipped laboratories, an anthropology teaching gallery, a digital planetarium, weather observatory, Science Discovery Center and two greenhouses. The Fine Arts Building is home to two art galleries, two theaters and a music wing with several rehearsal spaces and digital recording studios.
Residence Halls
Over the past few years, many of our residence halls have been renovated, with amenities such as fitness centers, kitchens, computer labs and front-loading washing machines (no quarters required!) All first-year students live in double-style rooms, usually with one roommate, and a common bathroom shared on each wing. After your first year, you’ll have additional housing options.
Campus Dining
We have superb dining facilities, including a Starbucks café in our Hunt Union and My Kitchen, where you can prepare food just the way you like it in four individual kitchens with ingredients that change daily — or sit back and watch one of our chefs create a culinary masterpiece.
Athletics and Fitness
Athletic facilities include a six-lane pool, two gymnasiums, two fitness centers, a 200-meter indoor running track, tennis and racquetball courts, baseball, soccer and softball fields, dance studios and an AstroTurf field surrounded by an eight-lane, 400-meter track.
College Camp
The campus community has access to College Camp for social, recreational and educational opportunities. Located on 284 acres of former farm and woodland about a mile from campus, it offers miles of trails for hiking, biking and skiing and is home to the University Observatory.
Cooperstown Campus
SUNY Oneonta’s Cooperstown Campus—home to our graduate programs in Museum Studies, Biology and Lake Management—is located about 30 minutes away. The historic village of Cooperstown features several museums (including the National Baseball Hall of Fame) and Otsego Lake, where advanced undergraduate and graduate students have exceptional research opportunities through our 2,600-acre Biological Field Station.
About the Oneonta Community
With a population of just under 14,000 people, Oneonta is a safe, friendly community known for its small-town ambiance and vibrant arts and entertainment scene. The city of Oneonta’s “just-right” size makes it a great place for a college campus.
Shopping and More
Within easy walking distance of campus is Oneonta’s downtown business district, which features coffee shops, pizzerias, ethnic cuisine, consignment stores and a variety of locally owned specialty shops. About 15 minutes from campus, the Southside Mall offers shopping and movies, and there’s a roller skating rink just down the road. Oneonta Public Transit provides regular bus service from campus to Main Street and the mall.
One of the Best College Towns in the U.S.
Don’t just take our word for it! Check out these recent accolades:
- Oneonta is #7 in the Northeast and among the top 50 in the nation on Rent Café’s 2025 list of “Best College Towns.”
- Airbnb called Oneonta one of the world’s “next ‘it’ dining destinations.”
- The Matador Network named Oneonta one of the “20 Coolest Towns in the U.S.”
Explore the Outdoors
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do here. Public parks and trails offer opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing in a beautiful natural environment.
Visit Campus
The best way to get a feel for the Oneonta campus and community is to see it for yourself! We offer regular campus tours and information and a variety of special admissions events for prospective students and families.
Key Links
Contact Admissions
Admissions Welcome Center
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820
United States