How to Get Into Binghamton University – Acceptance Rate and Strategies

Established right after the end of World War II, Binghamton University (also called SUNY Binghamton) has grown to become the top-rated public university in the state of New York. More than 42,000 applicants applied to Binghamton University in 2022, hoping to join the Class of 2026. This included an influx of out-of-state and international applicants. It’s no wonder the Binghamton University acceptance rate is inching toward 40%.

In order to help you prepare for the challenges ahead on the path to becoming a Bearcat, this article aims to offer:

• An understanding of how competitive the SUNY Binghamton admissions process is.
• More data on which to accurately assess your chances of admission.
• Advice for how to get your application to Binghamton University to stand out, even against a sea of other qualified applicants.

To accomplish these goals we will touch on the following topics:

• Binghamton University’s Class of 2026 acceptance rate
• Binghamton University’s Early Action acceptance rate
• SAT, ACT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Binghamton University applicants
• Admissions trends
• Binghamton University’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of current Binghamton University undergraduates
• The percent of accepted students that attend Binghamton University(yield rate)
• Tips for applying
• How to assess whether applying to Binghamton University is even worth the $50 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Binghamton University Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

The Binghamton University acceptance rate was 44% for the Class of 2025. Class of 2026 figures have yet to be officially released. However, based on the rise in applications, we estimate that it will be in the 41-42% range.

Binghamton University Early Action Acceptance Rate

The most recent Binghamton University EA acceptance rate data is from the Class of 2025, which saw 14,873 students apply via Early Action and 9,071 gain acceptance. This 61% acceptance rate is far higher than those who applied in the regular round.

Binghamton University Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA, and Class Rank

For Class of 2025 members, the mid-50% SAT was 1320-1460. The ACT range was 30-33. It is important to point out that SUNY Binghamton is test-optional through at least 2023-24. On the grade front, the average GPA was 3.99 and 75% of entering 2021-22 freshmen earned above a 3.75. Fifty-two percent of this cohort placed in the top decile of their high school class and 86% finished at least in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• Firstly, SUNY Binghamton will continue to be test-optional in 2022-23.
• Overall applications to the Class of 2026 increased 5% over the previous year.
• Out-of-state applications increased by 10% for the Class of 2026.
• Additionally, the number of international applicants rose by 20%.
• Lastly, the average accepted transfer student possesses a mid-50% college GPA of 3.3.-3.8.

How Binghamton University Rates Applicants

Binghamton University categorizes two factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Additionally, items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are application essays and class rank. Further, test scores are among 10 considered factors, alongside items like extracurricular activities and work experience.

For a slightly different look at the school’s institutional priorities, we go right to their own admissions office:

• “Binghamton University fully reviews all pieces of the application. We value students who challenge themselves academically as well as outside of the classroom. Strong applications will highlight the well-roundedness of the student. We are looking for students who will perform well academically and will also contribute to the active Binghamton campus community.”
• “While the most important piece of the application continues to be the high school transcript, we seek out students who are leaders, athletes, musicians, researchers, environmentalists, passionate about causes, driven, self-starters, political activists and so much more. “

Since SUNY Binghamton wants to see achievement and leadership outside of the classroom as well, it’s important to grasp what highly-competitive colleges are looking for when evaluating extracurricular activities. In short, they are looking for commitment and achievement in 2-3 core areas. For more, check out our blog entitled: How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?

Binghamton University Demographics

Next, let’s look at the demographics of Binghamton University undergraduate student body.

The regional representation among the undergraduate student body is as follows:

• New York State: 91%
• Out-of-State: 9%

The greatest percentage of international students come from the following countries:

• China
• Turkey
• South Korea
• India
• Japan

In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown of the undergraduate student body is as follows:

• White: 58%
• Asian: 15%
• Hispanic: 12%
• African American: 5%

A look at the gender split reveals that university enrolls a roughly even number of men and women.

• Men: 49%
• Women: 51%

Binghamton University’s “Yield Rate”

Binghamton University’s yield rate is 18%. For comparison, other top state schools have the following yields: University of Washington (28%), UCLA (44%), and the University of Michigan (45%).

Tips for Applying 

If you plan on joining the 42,000+ Binghamton University hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Firstly, we encourage you to check out the step-by-step application directions offered by the university.
• This school does not use interviews as part of their evaluation process.
• Binghamton University does not judge you on your level of demonstrated interest. We suggest making the effort to follow them on social media, sign up for a virtual info session, visit campus (if possible), contact an admissions officer, etc.
• Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the 2022-23 Common App essay prompts required by SUNY Binghamton.

Should I Apply to SUNY Binghamton?

The majority of teens admitted to SUNY Binghamton finished near the top of their high school class and 90% possessed at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA in a rigorous curriculum. If you check those boxes then you may be a competitive applicant and, if the school is a good fit for you, submitting an application will certainly be worth your time and $50. However, most students applying to a school of SUNY Binghamton’s caliber also need to also have a proper mix or “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.