Founded in 1828 as the New Paltz Classic Academy, New Paltz is the 99th oldest collegiate institution in the country. The State University of New York at New Paltz is a creative, diverse, challenging and supportive environment where students get a degree from a highly selective university and an education rich in experiences that will last a lifetime. At New Paltz, they are encouraged to explore and take intellectual risks, to find their passion, to begin the path and to find their voice.

The institution offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences which serve as a core for professional programs in the fine and performing arts, education, health care, business, and engineering. There are nearly 100 undergraduates and over 50 graduate degree programs offered at New Paltz.

New Paltz faculty have been cited for excellence in teaching, SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Teaching and SUNY Distinguished Faculty, and numerous research honors such as Fulbright, Guggenheim, National Science Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. The learning atmosphere at New Paltz has an air of imaginative inquiry that bridges all academic endeavors. The faculty encourages students to question, experiment, and discover in ways that lead to innovative thinking.

New Paltz is a vibrant, historic village in New York State’s Hudson Valley region, midway between Albany and New York City. The campus offers beautiful views of the Shawangunk Mountains and easy access to outdoor recreation such as hiking, kayaking, climbing and biking as well as a wide variety of restaurants, specialty shops, historic sites, and local entertainment venues.