Public SUNY university in upstate New York, founded 1889, known for ice hockey and liberal arts education.
SUNY Plattsburgh offers more than 60 baccalaureate degrees and numerous minors across three principal academic divisions: School of Arts & Sciences, School of Business & Economics, and School of Education, Health & Human Services. Graduate programs include data analytics, education, school psychology, speech-language pathology, clinical mental health counseling, fitness and wellness leadership, natural resources and ecology, and student affairs and higher education. All courses are taught by faculty, the majority of whom hold doctoral degrees. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The main campus spans 256 acres with 36 buildings in Plattsburgh's North Country region, near Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Key facilities include Hawkins Hall (built 1932, on the National Register of Historic Places), Feinberg Library, the Angell College Center, and the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Plattsburgh State Art Museum features over 4,600 works, including the largest Rockwell Kent collection in the US and the largest display devoted to one woman artist (Nina Winkel). Over 90% of students are from New York State, with 52% living on campus. The university has active Greek life, student media, and honors organizations.
In 2024, SUNY Plattsburgh accepted 70.2% of undergraduate applicants. Admitted students had an average high school GPA of 3.11. The university is test-optional; those who submitted scores averaged 1160 SAT or 25 ACT. Admission standards are considered challenging with low applicant competition.
SUNY Plattsburgh competes in NCAA Division III with 18 varsity teams (16 intercollegiate sports). The women's ice hockey team is a national powerhouse, winning seven NCAA D-III Championships (2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019). The men's hockey team won three NCAA D-III Championships (1987, 1992, 2001). Basketball reached the Final Four in 1976. Track and field has produced multiple NCAA All-Americans and national champions. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university tied for #49 among Regional Universities North (2024).