Welcome to Empire State University

On behalf of all faculty and staff at Empire State University, I extend a warm welcome to you as you begin the next step in your academic journey. We are thrilled that you have chosen SUNY Empire, and we will continue to work hard every day to provide you with the supports you need to succeed and attain your degree.  

Since its founding in 1971, SUNY Empire has been devoted to finding ways to meet students where they are, always striving to do better in service to our access mission and to our core commitments to inclusivity, creativity, and innovation. For nearly three decades, we have ranked first in student satisfaction among our peer SUNY institutions.

You — our students — are at the heart of all we do. SUNY Empire currently enrolls 16,000 students who come from across New York state, the country, and the world. We are proud to have more than 95,000 alumni, who excel in careers ranging from healthcare and business to the performing arts and education. We maintain close connections with our alumni, many of whom remain engaged at SUNY Empire and serve as mentors to our students. 

In addition, we are extremely proud to be the largest-serving, four-year, military-affiliated institution in SUNY—granting 20% of all military-affiliated degrees. And SUNY Empire is the first and only university designated an Autism Supportive College, creating an inclusive environment and academic experience for Neurodivergent students. These are just two examples of how we strive for inclusive excellence.

Together, the SUNY Empire community stands united around a singular mission: to provide innovative, flexible, and quality academic programs that empower people and strengthen communities. You are a vital part of that mission, and we encourage you to take advantage of all that we offer.

I wish you all the best in your studies at SUNY Empire!

Sincerely, 

Lisa Vollendorf, Ph.D.

President

This catalog is current as of June 2023. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and Empire State University or the State University of New York. The university reserves the right to make changes in policy, procedures, curricula, fee schedule, and other academic and administrative requirements, as circumstances dictate, subsequent to publication. Each student is expected to have knowledge of the information contained in this catalog and in other university publications and the student has a responsibility to stay informed of any changes. Changes in policy and programs are noted at information sessions and orientation workshops and on the university’s website.