Premier SUNY college focused on environmental science, forestry, and sustainable resource management.
ESF offers specialized undergraduate and graduate programs across eight academic departments: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental and Forest Biology, Environmental Resources Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Landscape Architecture, and Sustainable Resources Management. The college emphasizes experiential learning through classroom instruction, field work, laboratory research, and internships. Students benefit from a unique partnership with adjacent Syracuse University, allowing them to take courses and participate in campus life at both institutions while earning an ESF degree. The college also operates the Ranger School in Wanakena, offering associate degree programs in forest technology, surveying, and environmental conservation.
ESF's main Syracuse campus comprises nine buildings including Baker Laboratory, Bray Hall, Gateway Center, and Centennial Hall (opened 2011, housing 280–300 freshmen and 172 upperclassmen). The college maintains a close-knit community of over 2,000 scholars with shared environmental values. Students identify with the nickname 'Stumpies,' originally given by Syracuse University neighbors. The college operates extensive field stations and forests across New York (Cranberry Lake, Newcomb, Tully, Thousand Islands, Warrensburg, Follensby) and internationally in Costa Rica, supporting research and teaching in diverse ecosystems.
The admission rate for Fall 2023 was 83 percent. ESF offers multiple pathways including undergraduate admissions, graduate admissions, SUNY Reconnect, and visiting student programs. The college provides campus visits (daily appointments at 8:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Monday–Friday), open houses, information sessions, virtual tours, and regional receptions. Prospective students can schedule tours of the Syracuse campus or Ranger School, and the college offers online information sessions and virtual campus tours.
ESF is classified as a Carnegie R2 institution with high research activity. Faculty and students conduct pioneering research on environmental topics with global reach, including studies in Madagascar, the Amazon, Mongolia, and the Galápagos Islands. Notable research initiatives include the Willow Biomass Project and the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project. Career Services supports students in securing positions with businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and leading graduate programs. ESF graduates are reported to be in high demand across environmental and sustainability sectors.