FAQ for Families of Prospective Students

Answers to questions about Geneseo from the perspective of parents and families.

Campus Life

What are the dorms like on campus?

SUNY Geneseo’s residential communities offer a number of housing options, from traditional corridor style housing (e.g., Onondaga, Steuben), suites (e.g., Suffolk, Ontario, Erie), townhouses (Saratoga Terrace), and even hybrid corridor with shared bathrooms (Putnam). Approximately 90% of residents live in double rooms. Living-Learning Communities gather students together in residence halls based on similar interests, activities, or academics as well as cohorts (such as first-year or transfer students).

Are the dorms co-ed?

All residence halls are co-ed and some are all-gender. People of both sexes are assigned to every residence hall. Within residence halls, residents are placed in sections near the bathroom that aligns with their stated gender identity. All-gender housing allows roommate and suitemate groups regardless of gender expression, gender identity, or biological sex assigned at birth. Students won’t be assigned to all-gender housing unless they request it.

Is my student required to live on campus?

All first-year students at Geneseo are required to live on campus through the spring semester of their sophomore year or four consecutive semesters (a two-year residency requirement). This includes transfer students admitted with fewer than 30 credit hours from another college. More than half of all undergraduates (54%) live on campus.

What is the meal plan like? Is there unlimited dining?

Currently, Geneseo offers three on-campus unlimited dining meal plans and five meal plans for off-campus students. All students living on campus are required to have a meal plan.

My student has food allergies. Are they accommodated?

All student dining menus are labeled for easy identification of common allergens and diets. In addition, Campus Auxiliary Services is committed to accommodating individual dietary needs. Students with a food allergy or specialized diet should meet with the Nutrition and Wellness Manager to develop a plan that meets their needs. For more information, visit Food Allergies.

What’s the diversity like on campus?

Approximately 18% of Geneseo’s undergraduates are multicultural, and 22% of students are first-generation. Students hail from 16 states and 17 countries. The College has active offices for Diversity and Equity and Multicultural Affairs that offer a wide variety of programs and services supporting multicultural students, LGBTQ+ students, and more.

Can my student have a car on campus?

Any student may have a car on campus. They may only register a vehicle that they own or is owned by a family member, and they may only have one vehicle on campus at any given time.

How can my student get home to NYC/Long Island?

The Planning for Break page has several transportation options, including buses and shuttles.

Where should I stay or eat when I visit my student?

To help you prepare for a visit to Geneseo, here are driving directions and information about lodging and dining options. Families are welcome to eat in the college’s dining halls as well. You may also want to learn a bit about the Geneseo community as well as area attractions.

Academic Life

My student doesn’t know what they want to major in. What resources do you have for them?

The Career Design Center and the Office of Academic Planning & Advising offer appointments with advisors and a wide variety of resources for students to explore, including information on choosing a major and exploring experiences. The College also has a range of student supports, from academic peer mentors to career coaches.

My student has testing accommodations in high school. Are those available at Geneseo?

SUNY Geneseo coordinates reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services for persons with disabilities. The Office of Accessibility Services reviews requests for reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis. For more information, check out our Academic Accommodations Overview.

Do you have study abroad options? What’s the cost?

Nearly 30% of our undergraduates study abroad in an average (pre-pandemic) year—that’s about twice the national average. Geneseo offers access to more than 1,000 international study programs in 60 countries. We have short-term, semester-long, or year-long programs, both Study Abroad and Study Away. For more information, check out the Study Abroad FAQs for Prospective Students. The cost differs depending on the program and the country; check out our cost comparison sheets.

What percentage of students go on to graduate school or get jobs after graduation?

Graduate Outcomes captures the percentage of graduates employed full or part time, attending graduate school, volunteering full time, and/or in the military. For the Class of 2021, 82.3% report positive career outcomes; 75.3% say their degree helped prepare them for their career.

What is the acceptance/retention/graduation rate for students?

For Fall 2021 [the most recent year for which figures are available], Geneseo had an acceptance rate of 75%; a first-to-second-year retention rate of 86% (the national average is 75.5%), a four-year graduation rate of 69.2%, and a six-year graduation rate of 76.1% (the national average is 59.5%). The average SAT score for admitted students was 1246; the high school grade average was 92.8%. [Fast Facts]

Cost

How much does it cost to attend? What is the tuition/room and board breakdown?

For undergraduate NYS residents in academic year 2024–25, tuition is $7,070; fees are $1,929; room rent is $9,702; and a meal plan is $6,260 (the Knight500 plan for students living on campus), for a total of $24,961. You can find details about the cost of attendance here, including graduate and out-of-state costs.

What scholarships do you offer?

Financial scholarships and grants are available to many Geneseo students. For the 2023–24 academic year, SUNY Geneseo has increased funding to merit scholarships. New students who have been admitted to Geneseo will automatically be considered for all merit-based scholarships at the time they are admitted. Test scores are not necessary for students to be eligible for scholarships.

Health and Safety

Are there police on campus?

The University Police Department on the Geneseo campus is available 24 hours a day.

Where can I find more information about campus security and safety?

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. Printed copies are available at the University Police Department in Schrader Hall, Room 19 and the Office of Admissions in Doty Hall, Room 200 or by emailing police@geneseo.edu.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety.

In compliance with the Clery Act, SUNY Geneseo publishes its Annual Security and Fire Safety Campus Safety Report with updated crime statistics.

Are there medical professionals on campus?

Student Health and Counseling has a medical doctor and a consulting psychiatrist as well as PAs, NPs, RNs, LPNs, mental health and substance abuse counselors, wellness educators, and health promotion advocates. The department has received accreditation as a Medical Home, which designates it as student-centered, comprehensive, team-based, accessible, and quality-focused. For more information, check out Health and Counseling FAQs.

How far is the nearest hospital?

Two urgent care centers in Geneseo help support the medical needs of students. In addition, Student Health and Counseling maintains an extensive referral list of hospitals and specialists in the local area. You can find more Urgent, Hospital, Crisis, and Emergency Resources on our website.

What are the COVID-19 policies? Are vaccines/masks/testing required?

Per SUNY policy, and effective starting with Summer 2023 courses, the COVID-19 vaccine is longer required for students to attend SUNY Geneseo. Masking on campus is optional and testing is not required.

For more information, visit the general guidelines for respiratory illness and isolation.