Binghamton University (S.U.N.Y.)

Located in upstate New York, SUNY Binghamton University is a public state institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees at the bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree levels. It also offers post-master’s certificates.ⁱ Its official name is the State University of New York at Binghamton.

SUNY Binghamton University consists of six schools across disciplines:

1. The Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
2. The College of Community and Public Affairs
3. The Decker School of Nursing
4. The School of Management
5. The Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science
6. The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Binghamton University’s History

In 1946, Triple Cities College opened its doors to serve local veterans returning from World War II. Originally a branch of Syracuse University, the school’s campus was located just five miles from where Binghamton University sits now.ⁱⁱ

In 1950, Triple Cities College was incorporated into the State University of New York and renamed Harpur College. With a growing reputation and study body, Harpur College eventually became one of four doctorate-granting universities in the state system.ⁱⁱ

In 1965, the campus was officially designated the State University of New York at Binghamton. Binghamton University became the school’s informal name in 1992.ⁱⁱ

Binghamton University’s Mission and Values

Binghamton University’s mission is to enrich “the lives of people in the region, state, nation and world through discovery and education and to being enriched by partnerships with those communities.”ⁱⁱⁱ

Its vision is to act as an institution dedicated to higher education, one that combines an international reputation for graduate education research, scholarship and creative endeavor with the best undergraduate programs available at any public university.”ⁱⁱ 

The school prides itself in having a nationally recognized research institution with one of the fastest-growing research programs in the state of New York. It invests in top-notch facilities, outstanding library resources, and quality ways for students and community members to engage through clubs, organizations, and NCAA Division-1 sports.ⁱⁱ

Binghamton University also sees itself as a diverse and inclusive school. Nearly 29 percent of its students are students of color. They and the school’s other students come from 44 states throughout the country. Nearly 16 percent of Binghamton University’s students are international students who come from 117 countries. Perhaps evident of student satisfaction, 91.7 percent of freshman students return to Binghamton University for their sophomore year.ⁱⁱ

Binghamton University’s Innovative Learning Facilities

Another point of pride for SUNY Binghamton University is its Innovative Learning Facilities. They include:^iv

• A Bioengineering Building that features state-of-the-art laboratories, clinical research space, and a start-up suite for new companies.
• An Engineering and Science Building that houses academic departments, state-of-the-art laboratories, and suites for business start-ups and offices.
• The Center for Excellence, which is home to its Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging Center. This center serves as a research and development organization.
• A Smart Energy Building that houses the chemistry and physics departments and focuses on alternative-energy production

Faculty and Students at Binghamton University

As of the 2016-2017 school year, 17,292 students were enrolled at the school, making it a midsize university. The student-to-faculty ratio in its classes was 19 to 1, and 700 of the school’s 1,004 faculty members were full-time faculty members. In fall 2016, SUNY Binghamton University utilized 878 part-time graduate assistants, the majority of whom provided instructional assistance.ⁱ

SUNY Binghamton University Admissions

For the fall 2016 semester, 32,139 prospective students applied to SUNY Binghamton University. Of those applicants, the school accepted 41 percent. Twenty-one percent of the accepted applicants enrolled in classes that fall.ⁱ At 41 percent, U.S. News ranks the SUNY Bingham University acceptance rate as “more selective.”^v

For admission, SUNY Binghamton University requires applicants to submit the following:ⁱ

• Their high school grade point average
• Their high school record
• Evidence that they’ve completed a college preparatory program
• Recommendations
• SAT/ACT test scores
• And, when appropriate, their Test of English as a Foreign Language test scores

The school highly recommends that applicants submit their high school ranking as well.

Binghamton University Enrollment

Of Binghamton’s 13,632 undergraduate students in the fall of 2016, ninety-seven percent attended classes full-time. Just 3 percent attended part-time. The majority of students, also 97 percent, were aged 24 or younger. One percent of undergraduate students that same semester took classes entirely online, and 5 percent engaged in at least some online learning.ⁱ

Of Binghamton’s 3,660 graduate students in the fall of 2016, fifty-nine percent attended classes full-time and 41 percent attended classes part-time. Two percent of those students took classes entirely online, and 8 percent took at least some classes online.ⁱ 

SUNY Binghamton University Tuition

First-time beginning undergraduate students at SUNY Binghamton University paid an estimated $9,271 for in-state tuition in the 2016-2017 school year. Out-of-state students at the school paid an estimated $24,351 that same year. Both in and out-of-state students paid an additional estimated $1,000 for books and supplies.ⁱ

For in-state graduate students at SUNY Binghamton University, tuition cost an estimated $10,870 in 2016-2017. Out-of-state graduate students paid an estimated $22,210 that same year. No matter their resident status, graduate students paid an estimated $2,051 in fees.ⁱ

Financial Aid for Students at Binghamton University

During the 2015-2016 school year, 51 percent of undergraduate students, or 6,821 students, received grant of scholarship aid. 3,803 of those students received federal Pell grants. Forty-six percent of undergraduate students, or 6,146 students, took out federal student loans.ⁱ

SUNY Binghamton University Majors

Based on the number of degrees conferred in the 2015-2016 school year, the following majors were most popular for undergraduate students:ⁱ

• Accounting
• General psychology
• Biology and biological sciences
• English language and literature
• Human development, family services, and related services
• Registered nursing
• Economics
• Neuroscience
• Political science

For students earning masters degrees that year, these subjects were most popular:ⁱ

• Accounting
• Business administration and management
• Computer science
• Industrial engineering
• Electrical and electronics engineering
• Social work
• Public administration

The majority of students earning doctorate degrees that year did so in biology, computer science, engineering, English language and literature, nursing, and psychology.ⁱ

Binghamton University Rankings

In 2017, U.S. News ranked Binghamton University #87 (tie) in National Universities. The school tied for #49 in Best Colleges for Veterans and #52 in Best Value Schools. Of Top Public Schools, U.S. News ranked Binghamton University #38.^vi

In terms of Binghamton’s graduate school programs, U.S. News ranked it #77 (tie) in Best Business Schools, #50 in Clinical Psychology, #51 in Political Science, and #136 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Master’s.^vii

SUNY Binghamton Accreditation Status

SUNY Binghamton University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has been since 1952. The school also has specialized accreditation for various programs. The following institutions provide specialized or programmatic accreditation:ⁱ

• The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
• The American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• The National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation
• The New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, Office of the Professions (Nursing Education)

Find Binghamton University Online Programs

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