Cortland Guide

A taste of living

All degree-seeking undergraduate students must live on campus during their first year and exchange agreements require international students to do the same. That’s why we offer great housing options for new undergraduate students: Fitzgerald Hall, West Campus Apartments and the Judson H. Taylor Leadership House. Each one is equipped with a television lounge, a study lounge and laundry facilities.

First-rate housing: International students typically are paired with American roommates to enhance the intercultural experience, although single rooms also are available. One big benefit that comes with on-campus living is housing during academic year breaks. If it’s too expensive to head home, you’re welcome to stay on campus. Our University Police will keep you safe 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. We make moving halfway across the world, even if it’s for just one semester, as comfortable as possible.

Healthy eating: We also want to make sure we offer a variety of food options — especially healthy ones. If you’re living in an on-campus residence hall, you’re required to purchase a meal plan. But even if you live off campus or in the West Campus Apartments, these choices will come in handy. With nine dining locations on campus, you’ll certainly find something that suits both your appetite and your budget.

A small city for big dreams

Discover the perfect college town in Cortland: a welcoming, easy-to-navigate city located in Central New York. Within a walk or a short drive, you’ll find:

Culture to savor: Be mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the Great New York State Fair in the late summer. Then experience a slice of small-town America at Cortland’s Pumpkinfest in the fall.

Sports to watch: We hope you like to cheer. The university fields 25 varsity teams while nearby cities Syracuse and Binghamton offer several professional organizations in baseball, hockey and soccer.

Activities to enjoy: For the ultimate shopping and entertainment experience, visit Syracuse’s Destiny USA, one of the largest malls in the nation. Locally, try your hand at miniature golf. Or ski, snowboard or snowtube after our first snowfall.

Stay inspired. Stay engaged.

With 36 sport clubs and more than 30 intramural sports teams, along with state-of-the-art campus fitness facilities, our students are active. Play soccer in the fall, ski in the winter or golf in the spring. Regardless of how you do it, you’ll find a way to stay fit at SUNY Cortland.

Beyond the sports arena, more than 70 other student clubs exist across campus. If you love to learn more about diverse cultures, check out La Familia Latina or the International Awareness Club. If you have an interest in bringing musicians and comedians to campus, join the Student Activities Board. Or if a media career is your passion, our campus newspaper and television station can help build the skills to secure your dream job.

If you can think of a club, it probably exists at SUNY Cortland. And if it doesn’t, there’s a good chance you can start it with the help of a few friends.

A central New York location

While you can walk anywhere in Cortland, you’ll also find it easy to make a weekend trip to major tourist destinations. See a Broadway show in New York City. Catch a glimpse of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Or cross the border to visit the Toronto Zoo, the largest one in Canada. You’re within a five-hour drive of each city.