SUNY Empire State University

Yes, Empire State University is a SUNY school and part of the largest comprehensive university system in the United States.  

The four types of SUNY colleges include university centers/doctoral-granting institutions, comprehensive colleges, technology colleges, and community colleges.

SUNY Empire is now a university center/doctoral-granting institution. This means that it is a postsecondary institution accredited recognized by a U.S. Department of Education accrediting agency, and it awards research doctorates. 

Yes, SUNY Empire is online. It offers 120 online degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. According to NCES data, 21% of undergraduates and 91% of graduate students participate in online-only education. Data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard shows that 47% of SUNY Empire students graduate with degrees.

Examples of online bachelor's degrees include addiction studies, nursing, human resource management, and educational studies. Graduate students prepare for degrees in majors such as healthcare leadership, work and labor policy, and special education.

Yes, SUNY Empire's online degrees are legitimate because an accredited school confers them. Employers also respect them.

To provide the most trustworthy results, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site. 

SUNY Empire is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditation agency. This accreditation status signifies that MSCHE finds SUNY Empire's financial practices sound and that its academic programming meets federal quality standards.

SUNY Empire is known for offering affordable and convenient education suited for working adults and considers itself military-centered. It has served military-aligned students for over 50 years and participates in the Community College of the Air Force's (CCAF) General Education Mobile Program (GEM). SUNY Empire also offers low tuition rates and waives fees for most military students. It has a dedicated Office of Veteran and Military Education (OVME) outreach staff providing free evaluated education plans for military members, student veterans, and their families. 

SUNY Empire is also known for its high graduate earnings potential and has made several of our rankings lists. For example, we've ranked it #2 for best online colleges in New York and best online human services degrees and #3 for best online social science degrees.

According to College Scorecard, SUNY Empires bachelor's degrees in registered nursing, public administration, biological and physical science, and business provide the highest earnings. Graduates in these fields earn median annual salaries of approximately $103,700, $71,400, $68,400, and $60,000, accordingly. 

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. SUNY Empire has a bachelor's salary score of 76 and 62 for its master's degrees. Its psychology, nursing, and history bachelor’s degree programs all score in the 90s.

Getting into SUNY Empire is easy because it accepts 100% of applicants due to its open admission policy. This practice can help level the playing field and encourage greater access to higher education. 

Although individual degree programs, such as nursing and education, may have additional requirements, SUNY Empire's admission requirements for first-year students generally include the following:

• A free application 
• A $50 orientation fee
• Official high school transcripts or GED
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Official military transcripts, if applicable

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