Getting To Know: SUNY-University at Albany aka UAlbany
SUNY-University at Albany, aka UAlbany, is the smallest of New York’s four flagship research universities. Its undergraduate enrollment has held steady between 12,100 and 12,800 students. I have visited this school before and have a cousin who is an alumna. However, a recent profile on The College Tour, prompted me to take another look..
UAlbany has also earned high rankings for diversity and upward mobility
The school also has one of the 40 largest Jewish populations of any public university, regardless of size, according to Hillel.org. However, while UAlbany has tried to make inroads into New Jersey, just under 5 percent of the undergraduate student body comes from outside New York State. Over 120,000 UAlbany alumni registered in LinkedIn.com are based in or around New York City.
UAlbany is true value for the money.
The estimated total cost of attendance is just over $32,000 for New York residents and just under $43,000 for non-residents. As a frame of reference, Penn State charges non-residents more for tuition and fees alone than UAlbany estimates for all costs. In addition, nearly three-quarters of the entering Class of 2027 received need-based grants and scholarships that averaged over $12,000 according to the university’s most recent Common Data Set. The average student loan indebtedness for 2024 gads who borrowed was just under $25,000. These students could have borrowed up to $27,000 through the Federal Student Loan Program,.
Yet UAlbany does not have exceptionally selective admissions.
Sixty-nine percent of applicants to the Class of 2026 were offered admission according to the university’s most recent Common Data Set. More interesting to me: eighty-two percent of non-resident applicants were accepted versus 68 percent of New York residents. Only six percent of the class came from other US states while only three percent were international students.
Admissions to UAlbany are test optional. Less than 15 percent of the class of 2026 submitted scores. The middle 50 percent scores were lower than one will find for the flagship campuses in neighboring New Jersey or Massachusetts .The middle 50 percent for the SAT was between 1160 and 1310. For the ACT Composite it was between 24 and 30. The average GPA was a 3.7 though nearly a third of the class had a GPA of 4.0 or higher. UAlbany uses Early Action, rendering decisions starting in January.
UAlbany has several signature academic programs.
This is especially true for students interested in careers in atmospheric sciences, business, health professions, criminal justice or public policy making, among other fields. This university has the only school dedicated to cybersecurity, Emergency preparedness and homeland security that I am aware of. There’s also unique programs in nanotechnology and sustainable engineering. Those who are considering UAlbany and qualify for the Honors College should take advantage of the opportunity to get a more personalized education at an exceptionally reasonable price.
UAlbany reminded me of my visit last year to the University of Maryland-Balitimore County, Here’s why:
- Both schools are meant to be smaller and more diverse state schools.
- They have about the same number of undergrads.
- Both place more emphasis on undergraduate and masters-level education versus the doctoral degree.
- These schools play D-1 sports.
- They primarily serve in-state students who are seeking an affordable education.
- Both lose about 15 percent of a freshman class.
Their campuses opened four years apart. But UAlbany offers more majors across more undergraduate schools and has a higher four-year graduation rate (64 percent).
UAlbany appears to be designed as a 1960s vision of a small city.
The residential quads appear at the corners and the academic buildings at the center. The newest academic buildings are set off on their own sites. While such a complex might fit in well in a downtown surrounded by tall buildings, the effect is of a city dropped into the middle of a suburb. Over 90 percent of the freshmen live in university-owned housing, mainly within this complex, as does 60 percent of the full undergraduate student body, high for a state university.
However, the design allows for on-campus residents to get around easily on foot. In addition, mass transit stops in Collins Circle, the main entrance to the academic center as well as the apartments and Alumni Quad. Parking is at the periphery of campus. It’s easier to have a car at UAlbany than most other schools, as long as you’re an upper-class student.The university also constructed their own version of a campanelle tower, as you would see at UC-Berkeley.
I read many student comments about this campus. It was designed at a time when multi-purpose concrete structures were the rage on college campuses, especially large state universities. An old college YouTube series, Beyond the Brochure, called this section of campus the second-largest concrete structure in the US, after the Pentagon. The problem that I see with such structures is that once you go big you can never go back. The school has to renovate the interior spaces; the administration can’t just knock the buildings down and start over. I dropped some campus photos below, so you can get the idea of where I’m coming from.
UAlbany takes pride in fountains.
These are lit in the evenings in warmer weather, adding much to the “city center” appearance of the campus. However, Albany is a cold-weather city. So, the fountains must turned off from November through April, making the concrete campus setting appear colder as well.
A cluster of tall buildings such as the residential towers will create a “canyon effect.”Winter winds will become colder and stronger between the buildings. The University has tried to remedy this problem through above-ground walkways and underground tunnels. While Albany does not get as cold as New England cities further north, it does get more snow during the winter than most of the East Coast. If you hate snow, it’s best to look at other schools.
On the plus side, the University constructed some nice buildings.
UAlbany has some of the nicer business and technology facilities in the U.S. and also constructed attractive apartment complexes within walking distance.
But to me UAlbany has the look and feel of a corporate office park,
The development of the campus overlapped with the construction of the Empire State Plaxa in downtown Albany, New York State’s government complex, though the campus opened first. If you venture into downtown Albany and stop by Empire Center, you might be led to believe that the campus and Plaza were built together. The office buildings have similar lines and colors. The Plaza also has fountains, but also has ice skating in the colder months.
There are many transportation options around this school.
UAlbany students may ride the buses free into downtown Albany as well as shopping options along Fuller Road outside of campus. Bus transit is better than most regions in the country, in part because there are more than 65,000 college students in the region.. There are also bus connections to New York City with student discounts. Amtrak train service to Boston and New York City is also available from Albany. The city is approximately three hours from New York or Boston by car.
UAlbany has entertainment options on and near campus.
The University’s performing arts center has five theaters and the campus has its own art museum. The student body and basketball arena are large enough to interest notable speakers and performers, though they’re more likely to be seen at the Egg or the MVP Arena downtown. In addition to concerts, the MVP Arena has hosted championship rounds in college basketball and hockey as well as minor league professional hockey. Downtown Albany has its own arts district and entertainment venues. However, while Albany is the capital of New York State, it is a city of just over 100,000 people, fairly small for a host to a flagship university. You’re less likely to see public transportation operating very late at night.
New York’s Capital Region should not be underestimated as a recreation and entertainment center. The Adirondacks are close by, including the largest state park in New York. Outdoorsy people who have access to a car may like this school more than they would expect at first.
UAlbany plays 17 Division I (scholarship) varsity sports.
It competes in the Colonial Athletic Association in football, the America East in all other sports. The women’s sports appear to have more success since 2020 winning regular season titles in basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse and track & field. Track and field has been the most successful men’s sport. UAlbany does not have an athletic tradition built around national championships or trips to the final rounds of national NCAA competition. .The football stadium seats 8,500 and is used by other sports. The basketball venue seats 3,800. These are small venues for a D-1 school.
Conclusion
It’s very hard to beat UAlbany’s value proposition, especially for a New York resident. It’s also likely that a graduate can find work in New York City as well as the Albany metropolitan area. However, those who are seeking more of a spirit and sports vibe at a state university might want to look elsewhere. And, when it comes to the look and feel of the campus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Report Card: UAlbany
- Four-Year/Six-Year Graduation Rates: C+/B
- Freshman Retention: B
- Costs: A
- Curriculum: A
- Community: B
- Comforts: B+
- Connections: A (New York City and State) /C (elsewhere)
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