SUNY Cortland’s official online access system is known as myRedDragon. This resource can be used to check email, view confidential academic or financial aid information and perform many other important tasks.

Detailed instructions on how to set up your myRedDragon account are included in your acceptance folder.

Accepted students must submit an admission deposit to secure their spot in SUNY Cortland’s entering class as well as a residence hall room for the upcoming semester.

Students accepted for the fall semester should plan to submit their deposit by May 1. Requests for an extension of the deposit deadline can be made by email. Students accepted after April 1 or those who will start in the spring semester must submit their deposit within 30 days of the date on their acceptance letter. The deposit fee is waived for students who are accepted into the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) but students must confirm their attendance by sending an email to admissions@cortland.edu with their SUNY Cortland C-number.

Deposits are not refundable beyond the deposit due date and they can be paid by mail or online. 

To pay your deposit online, log in to your myRedDragon account and select the Admissions tab at the top of the page. You will see a link in the middle of the page to submit your deposit. The College accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Join SUNY Cortland’s official Facebook group for the Class of 2025 and new transfer students. You’ll be prompted for your C-number, included on your acceptance letter, when requesting to join.

Campus visit programs are expected to resume on a limited scale during the spring semester. Students can learn more or register online for current opportunities. Several online resources also are available.

The FAFSA process considers students for need-based federal and college-based grants, Work-Study and loans. Students who file their FAFSA by Feb. 1 (or Dec. 1 for spring semester enrollees) receive priority for campus-based federal funding.

SUNY Cortland’s FAFSA code is 002843.

We encourage you to consult with our Financial Aid Office about opportunities for funding support and for assistance with the financial aid process.

SUNY Cortland awards merit-based scholarships to incoming first-year and transfer students. All merit scholarship recipients are notified of their awards their acceptance letters.

Accepted students also can apply for a wide range of endowed scholarships funded by the Cortland College Foundation, the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association and other groups. Many list class year, academic major or grade point average requirements. The scholarship portal opens Jan. 15 and the deadline to apply is March 15.

More information can be found on the SUNY Cortland Scholarships page. 

Red Dragons appreciate many ways to stay busy on campus.

More than 70 student clubs and organizations welcome new members. These groups are rooted in culture, academic interests, performance, social causes, Greek life — almost anything you could imagine.

Our Undergraduate Research Council offers opportunities for students to do original, scholarly research under the guidance of respected professors from any discipline. Student researchers present at professional conferences and they author peer-reviewed research papers.

The International Programs Office oversees nearly 40 credit-bearing study abroad programs that range in length from 10 days to an academic year. As a SUNY Cortland student, you also have access to more than 1,000 study abroad programs offered throughout the SUNY system.

And approximately 2,500 people per day pass through our state-of-the-art Student Life Center, which houses an active Recreational Sports program. Students can enjoy an array of fitness and recreation opportunities, more than 60 intramural and sport clubs and unlimited outdoor pursuits opportunities.

Housing assignments are based on the date a room deposit is received, the date the online housing preference form is submitted and any special-interest housing indicated on the online housing preference form.

For more information, refer to the Housing FAQs page.

Sample video tours

Alger Hall (high-rise residence hall with singles, doubles and suites; primarily for returning students and transfer students)

Fitzgerald Hall (corridor-style residence hall primarily for first-year students)

Glass Tower Hall (quad-style residence hall primarily for returning students)

Spring 2021 Timeline

Jan. 4, 2021 Housing Preference Form due 

Jan. 15, 2021 Hall assignment and roommate information available on myRedDragon

To be determined Please consult the Residence Life and Housing page for the most current information.

Fall 2021 Timeline

April 1, 2021 Housing Preference Form instructions for myRedDragon sent

May 1, 2021 Admission deposit due

May 31, 2021 Housing Preference Form due 

Aug. 1, 2021 Hall assignment and roommate information available on myRedDragon

starting approximately Aug. 27, 2021 Projected move-in for first-year students who have attended Orientation. Please consult the Residence Life and Housing page for the most current information.

Complete health forms online through the Student Health Portal, which is accessed by logging in to myRedDragon. Instructions and requirements can be found on Student Health Service’s new student page.

In addition to completing the online forms, students must also submit an official paper copy of their immunization records to Student Health Service. This may be a copy of a prior school’s records or those from a primary care provider’s office. Completed records are due as soon as possible.

Students starting in the fall semester must submit their health forms and immunization records by July 1. Spring semester attendees must complete them by Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the Student Health Service website or contact the office, located in Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-26, at 607-753-4811. The office fax number is 607-753-2486.

Advisement and Transition coordinates Orientation for all new students. These sessions are designed to introduce the services and programs that are vital to a smooth and successful transition to life at SUNY Cortland. Orientation is expected to take place online for first-year and transfer students beginning their studies in Spring 2021 and Fall 2021.

Please consult the Orientation webpage for the latest updates.

Incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to begin their SUNY Cortland experience by joining a small group of peers for an unforgettable trip to the university’s one-of-a-kind outdoor campus in the Adirondacks. It’s an excellent way to build friendships before the semester. No prior outdoors experience is necessary.

The status of the Fall 2021 program remains uncertain due to COVID-19.

Learn more about the Adirondack Trail Blazers program.

All final high school and college transcripts should be sent to SUNY Cortland, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045.

Final transcripts should clearly identify your date of graduation, if applicable.

Credit from Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and outside college coursework is awarded following the receipt of an official AP or other proficiency transcript. AP scores must be sent directly from the College Board to SUNY Cortland.

To see how test scores or college coursework transfers to SUNY Cortland, consult our Transfer Equivalency Chart.

The Campus Store sells everything our students need, from Red Dragon merchandise to residence hall essentials. Staff members will even pre-pack textbooks so they’re ready upon arrival to campus.

Students planning to start in the Spring 2021 semester should log in to myRedDragon and complete the Housing Preference Form by Jan. 4. Students requesting housing accommodations also must provide medical documentation by Jan. 4. Housing assignment and roommate information is available on myRedDragon by Jan. 15.

New student arrival for students starting in Fall 2021 is expected to begin Friday, Aug. 27. Detailed move-in instructions are finalized in early August. Please visit the Residence Life and Housing new student page for the most current information.

A SUNY Cortland ID card is used in many ways – to purchase meals, print or make copies, use laundry facilities and provide access to the residence hall in which a student lives.  Students can submit an ID photo online.

SUNY Cortland ID cards will be available for pick-up at Neubig Hall on move-in day. Students should remember to bring another form of ID when they pick it up.

Many special programs are offered during the first several weeks of school students to familiarize themselves with campus opportunities and meet new friends. Welcome Week activities are finalized in January for the spring semester and August for the fall semester.

New students should make note of the complete Academic Calendar, which includes important dates and events throughout the year. Spring 2021 classes begin Monday, Feb. 1. Fall 2021 classes begin Monday, Aug. 30.

SUNY Cortland offers many programs and resources to ensure academic success.

• Academic Convocation
• First Year Seminar (COR 101)
• Non-Traditional Student Services
• Multicultural Life and Diversity Office
• Residence Life and Housing
• Personal Safety Programs
• The Learning Center
• Student Conduct Office
• Campus Safety Report