Admissions

Applying for Admission & Application Deadlines

Prospective students should apply to SUNY Poly on-line via the SUNY Application or The Common Application. The SUNY Campus Code for SUNY Poly is 048. SUNY Poly admits students into the following bachelor degree programs:

  • Accounting
  • Applied Computing
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Business Administration
  • Civil Engineering
  • Civil Engineering Technology
  • Community and Behavioral Health
  • Communication and Information Design (Accelerated BS/MS Option)
  • Computer Engineering Technology
  • Computer and Information Science (Accelerated BS/MS Option)
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Health Information Management
  • Interdisciplinary Studies*
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering Technology
  • Nanoscale Engineering (Albany Campus)
  • Nanoscale Science (Albany Campus)
  • Network and Computer Security
  • Nursing* (Accelerated BS/MS Option)
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

*Available to transfers only

Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended, and all required application materials send to:

SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Undergraduate Admissions Office
100 Seymour Road
Utica, NY 13502

Questions? Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office at (315) 792-750 or Email at admissions@sunypoly.edu.

Fall Admissions Deadlines

Freshman

Early Action Application

  • November 15 – Application Deadline
  • December 1 – Application Complete
  • December 15 – Admission Decision & Scholarship Notification
  • May 1 – Deposit Deadline

Regular Admissions

  • January 15 – Admission Decision Notification Begins
  • February 1 – Preferred Application Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
  • March 1 – Scholarship Notification
  • May 1 – Deposit Deadline
  • July 1 – Application Deadline

Transfer

  • December 15 – Admission Decision Notification Begins
  • April 1- Scholarship Notification
  • July 1- Application Deadline

Spring Admission Deadlines

Freshman and Transfer

  • October 1 – Admissions Decision Notification Begins
  • December 1 – Application Deadline
  • January 1 – Deposit Deadline

Decisions continue on a rolling basis until the deadline or until the class is full. SUNY Poly reserves the right to close admission at any time prior to the application deadline.

Requirements for Admission

Admission is competitive. Admission decisions are weighted heavily on previous academic and college admission test performance; however, SUNY Poly practices a holistic admissions approach. We acknowledge that a student’s success in college is dependent on many factors, and we incorporate personal essays, letters of recommendation and other supplemental information into our decision-making process.

SUNY Poly will consider candidates for admission who do not otherwise meet the general admission criteria, but possess or have exhibited special talents (academic, athletics, technology, leadership, etc.). Upon request, students may have their special talent reviewed by the admissions staff, faculty and athletic coaches. Special talent candidates must present formal evidence of their special talent and may be asked to interview with the Special Talent Admissions Committee prior to receiving a final admission decision. SUNY Poly participates in Early Action and in the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP).

If admitted, the decision is provisional; students admitted with self-reported academic transcripts and test scores must present final transcripts and have test scores officially submitted for credential evaluation and diploma verification prior to matriculation. Students admitted with official transcripts must also submit final official documentation of coursework in progress for diploma verification. Failure to meet this requirement will jeopardize financial aid awards and matriculation standing.

SUNY Poly reserves the right to rescind an admission decision if academic progress was not maintained by the student as evident in final transcripts, or information is conflicting with original self-reported information.

Freshman Admission Criteria

Utica

  • Average GPA: B/B+
  • SAT middle 50%: 1090-1220 (CR+M)
  • ACT: 24-27
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation
  • A supplemental application that includes a personal essay.
  • A personal interview is highly recommended and will be used with supplemental information as a factor in determining admission.

Albany

  • Average GPA: A-/A
  • SAT Middle 50%: 1290-1420 (CR+M)
  • ACT: 29-32
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation
  • A supplemental application that includes a personal essay

Transfer Admission Criteria: A transfer student is generally a student who has earned college credit following high school graduation. Admission is competitive. To be considered for transfer admission, the applicant must possess the following:

Utica

  • 2.7+ GPA for consideration. (Coursework and G.P.A. from all colleges attended are considered when determining an applicant’s minimum G.P.A. for admission.) Highest consideration is given to associate degree holders (A.A., A.S.) in regards to minimum G.P.A. required.
  • A supplemental application is required of most students.
  • Students with 30 credit hours or less may be required to submit high school transcripts and college admission test scores for review.

Students presenting a G.P.A. below a 2.7 and above a 2.0 will be considered on an individual basis. Acceptable credentials vary by academic program. Because of academic rigor, demand for certain programs and limited availability of seats, some programs require an applicant’s G.P.A. be higher than the stated minimum.

Albany

  • 5+ GPA for consideration. (Coursework and G.P.A. from all colleges attended are considered when determining an applicant’s minimum G.P.A. for admission.) Highest consideration is given to associate degree holders (A.A., A.S.) in regards to minimum G.P.A. required.
  • Recommended coursework can be found at sunypoly.edu/transfer

Students presenting a G.P.A. below a 3.5 and above a 3.0 will be reviewed individually and admissions is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Accelerated BS/MS Admission Criteria

Accelerated BS/MS Program in Communication and Information Design and Information Design and Technology
At any time prior to their senior year, CID students can apply to enter the new accelerated BS/MS program. The joint BS/MS program is a well-integrated program that permits students to complete both a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Information Design, and a master’s degree in Information Design and Technology in a reduced time frame with a reduced total number of total credits. Go to cid.sunypoly.edu for admission requirements and for further details.

BS/MS Degree Requirements

Completion of the joint BS/MS program requires:

  • A minimum of 145 credit hours, including a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate study.
  • All specific requirements for both the BS and the MS degrees must be met. Students in the joint program may apply up to six credits of graduate coursework to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously.
  • The double-counted coursework will be chosen from the Core and Elective Courses in the graduate program, and up to 6 of these credits may be applied to the undergraduate track electives.
  • The intent of this program option is to allow well-prepared students to finish both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a reduced time frame.
  • The graduate program is completely online, so students can choose to leave the area after completing the CID requirements and continue taking courses for the MS degree.

Accelerated Computer Science BS/MS

Admission to the BS/MS program may be achieved, and enrollment maintained, in one of the following ways:

  • As an entering freshman; continued enrollment in the joint program requires achievement of grades of B or better in CS 108, CS 240, CS 249, MAT 115 (or MAT 413), and a mathematics elective (calculus, linear algebra, or statistics).
  • Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of the semester in which the first 60 credits have been completed.
  • Upon initial transfer to SUNY Poly; students must have earned grades of B or better in CS 108, CS 240, CS 249, MAT 115 (or MAT 413), and in a mathematics elective (or in their transfer equivalents), and must have a transfer GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Subsequent to initial enrollment at SUNY Poly; students must receive grades of B or better in those courses (or their transfer equivalents) listed in A) and B) above, have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 for all courses taken at SUNY Poly, and have a GPA of at least 3.2 for courses in their major. Students entering the joint BS/MS program must not have completed more than 94 credit hours toward their Bachelor’s degree, and must be able to complete all requirements for the Bachelor’s degree within the first 124 semester hours earned.

Accelerated Nursing BS/MS (for Professional Registered Nurses)

This program offers qualified registered nurses the opportunity to earn both the BS and MS in Nursing within a shortened time frame. The curriculum combines elements of the BS program with the MS program and streamlines the BS program by substituting with select accelerated courses. Full-time study is preferred to proceed through the program at an accelerated pace. Students have the option of selecting from three graduate specialty areas of concentration: nursing administration, nursing education, or family nurse practitioner. At the end of the option, the graduate will be eligible to seek advanced practice certification. The RN to BS/MS student will receive both BS and MS degrees upon program completion.

In addition, students requesting admission to the Accelerated RN to BS/MS Program must meet the following requirements:

  • Hold an associate’s degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program, with a minimum 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 30 hours of undergraduate course work.
  • Be currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State.
  • Have completed the equivalent of one year of work experience in nursing and must submit an employment verification form that must reflect your most recent 2000 hours of work experience as a registered nurse; use separate forms for each employer needed to reach the total of 2000 hours.
  • Submit two (2) reference report forms from professional nurses; one (1) must come from faculty with whom the applicant had studied, and (1) from recent employers or any other individual who can provide evidence of the applicant’s past and potential contributions to the profession.
  • Provide a completed writing sample. In this document you must discuss in writing precisely the applicant’s reasons for seeking admission to the BS/MS program, identifying professional experiences to date have prepared you for graduate study at SUNY Poly and for your intended professional role upon completion of the program. You must also describe your plans to alter your professional and/or personal obligations to have the time needed for study including the required clinical experiences. In addition, identify one significant contemporary issue/problem in the United States health care system and explore how members of your intended advanced practice role can help address the issue or solve the problem.
  • Participate in a personal interview with a member of the nursing faculty.
  • Submit a professional experiences form which details any professional research, certification, leadership, or work related activities.

Advanced Placement

Administered by the College Board, Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be awarded for courses taken in high school dependent upon the AP exam scores achieved. Students should send an official copy of their scores directly to the Admissions Office. AP credit cannot be used to fulfill SUNY Poly’s requirement for the satisfactory completion of one upper-division writing course. In addition, AP credits in biology, chemistry, environmental science or physics will only fulfill SUNY Poly’s requirement for the satisfactory completion of one laboratory course in the physical sciences when a score of 4 or 5 has been achieved on any of the four AP examinations. Refer to listing of AP examinations and acceptable scores. SUNY Poly College Board Code: 0755.

Declaration of Major

The campus allows freshmen to be admitted as undeclared majors. Students admitted in this manner must complete a Change of Program form to declare their major no later than the beginning of their junior year or at the completion of 60 credit hours.

Interview

Although an interview is not required for admission, the best way to experience what it’s like to be a SUNY Polytechnic Institute student is to see it for yourself. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus and discuss their educational plans with a member of the admissions staff. Select Schedule a Visit to arrange your visit or interview.

Registration

All new degree students are required to attend an orientation/registration program. Please consult the academic calendar for options and registration dates.

International Student Admission

Foreign students who meet the admission requirements may obtain foreign student application forms on the SUNY Poly website at www.sunypoly.edu or E-mail: international@sunyit.edu.

Transcript Evaluation: International applicants may be required to have their transcripts evaluated by an approved credential evaluator to determine the credit equivalencies of previously completed coursework outside of the United States. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services  has an approved list of credential evaluators on their website.

Financial Documents: International applicants must submit the SUNY Poly FSA-4 document along with a certified bank statement or affidavit of support. Please contact the International Admissions Office for the required minimum level of financial support that is required at the time of application.

Proof of English Proficiency: International applicants must demonstrate minimum levels of English proficiency through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as follows:

International student applications should reflect the student’s name exactly as it appears on their passport. SUNY Polytechnic Institute is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

Students with Disabilities

SUNY Poly does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in admissions or in access to programs. See Services for Students with Disabilities section.

Readmission

Readmission is required if a student was previously matriculated but has been out for at least three consecutive semesters of study at SUNY Poly.  It is also required for students who withdraw from all courses and then wish to enroll for the following semester.

Students seeking readmission to SUNY Poly must file a Readmission Application to the Registrar’s Office along with a $30 readmission fee.

Readmission Application Deadlines:

Fall:  August 1
Spring:  December 15

Non-Degree Study

Students may register for coursework at SUNY Poly without being formally admitted to the college, on a non-degree basis. Seats for non-degree students are limited for some courses. Students enrolling in non-degree study must meet minimum academic criteria and have completed the necessary pre-requisites for the coursework to be taken. A non-matriculated application must be filed along with submission of academic transcripts. The application for non-degree study and fee information is accessible via the SUNY Poly website at: sunypoly.edu/registrar/forms. Contact the Registrar’s Office for deadline dates and fee information.

Distance Learning

The college offers selected courses in distance learning through the SUNY Learning Network (SLN). SUNY Poly continues to offer new courses through this medium each semester. On-line course offerings vary each semester and students should contact the Registrar’s Office for a current listing of courses. Currently undergraduate Health Information Management coursework and programs in Accountancy (M.S.), Nursing Education (M.S.), and Technology Management (M.B.A.) are offered on-line. Select arts and science and nursing courses are also available. Online course work is available to both degree and non-degree students in undergraduate areas. Online graduate course work within the Department of Business Management is limited to matriculated students unless special permission is obtained.

Part-Time Studies

Part-time students seeking matriculation into a degree program must be formally accepted by the Admissions Office at SUNY Poly. Refer to section on admissions in this catalog. The Admissions Office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment (phone: (315) 792-7500 or 1 (866) 2 SUNY Poly).

Part-time degree students register in the same manner as full-time students during both advance registration and formal registration which are scheduled prior to the beginning of each term. All new degree students are required to attend an orientation/registration program. Please consult the academic calendar in the catalog for options and registration dates.

Students with questions about part-time degree study can visit or call the Admissions Office.

Financial Aid for Part-Time Attendance

Matriculated part-time students may qualify for the following types of financial aid:

  • Pell Grant
  • Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
  • Federal Nursing Loan
  • Perkins Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan)
  • Federal Direct Loans
  • College Work Study Program
  • Aid for Part-Time Study

Refer to the financial aid information section of this catalog for details.

Graduate Study

Degree Programs
SUNY Poly offers graduate degree programs in:

DEGREE
Accountancy M.S.
Technology Management M.B.A.
Computer and Information Science M.S.
Data Analysis C.A.S.
Family Nurse Practitioner M.S., C.A.S.
Information Design and Technology M.S.
Nanoscale Engineering M.S., Ph.D. (Albany Campus)
Nanoscale Science M.S., Ph.D. (Albany Campus)
Network and Computer Security M.S.
Nursing Education M.S., C.A.S.
Telecommunications M.S.

How to Apply
Prospective graduate students should submit the Application for Graduate Admission by July 15 for fall admission or December 1 for spring admission. Degree requirements and admissions procedures vary by program and are detailed in the SUNY Poly Graduate Catalog. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office with questions at graduate@sunypoly.edu or 315-792-7347 or 1-866-278-6948.

Non-Degree Graduate Study
Students may apply to take graduate courses without formal admission to the degree program, on a space-available basis by filing the Non-Matriculated Application with the Office of Continuing and Professional Education. Generally, a maximum of six credit hours is allowed for non-degree study. In some instances students may choose to continue taking coursework above the six hour total if permitted, but may not take more than 12 hours before matriculating in their degree program. The maximum number of non-matriculated credits permitted varies from program to program. Graduate coursework taken while in non-degree status may be applicable to the degree program upon formal admission, however, there is no guarantee of credit applicability or admission by completing coursework in non-degree status.