SUNY at Potsdam

What SUNY at Potsdam does

SUNY Potsdam (legally, The State University of New York at Potsdam) is a public four-year comprehensive university established in 1816 and located in Potsdam, New York, in Northern New York near the Adirondack Mountains. It operates as a constituent unit of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and serves primarily traditional-age undergraduate students, graduate students, and youth musicians through three academic schools: the School of Arts & Sciences (offering 60+ degree programs), the Crane School of Music (a nationally recognized music program), and the School of Education & Professional Studies. The institution employs 501-1,000 staff and faculty, and emphasizes applied learning with 100% of students participating in experiential education, internships, and field placements.

The institution's core technology stack consists of standard higher-education SaaS platforms: the Brightspace learning management system for online course delivery, the SUNY-wide ALMA/Primo (BearCat) shared library catalog across 64 campuses, the Accommodate portal for disability services management, and the ILLiad system for interlibrary loans. Supporting services include the Lougheed Learning Commons (housing the Makerspace with 3D printing, Math Lab, Writers' Block, and collaborative study spaces), the Office of Accommodative Services, Athletics & Recreation, and residential housing and dining. The institution is currently investing in a comprehensive Digital Accessibility Framework to meet the April 2026 Title II ADA deadline.

SUNY Potsdam's business model is the standard public-university revenue mix: tuition and mandatory fees (state-mandated rates for in-state and out-of-state students), state appropriations from New York, campus housing and dining revenue, financial aid distribution, alumni giving and donations, and ancillary revenue from the Crane Youth Music summer camp ($920 residential / $590 commuter) and the campus Gear Shop. Recruitment is event-driven, relying on Saturday Visit Days, college fairs, regional counselor outreach, and digital marketing channels. The institution holds no VC or PE ownership and is ultimately governed by the SUNY Board of Trustees as a state entity.

Name

SUNY at Potsdam

Legal name

The State University of New York at Potsdam

Website

https://potsdam.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1816

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SUNY Potsdam is a public four-year university in Northern New York, part of the SUNY system, serving undergraduate and graduate students through three schools (Arts & Sciences, Crane School of Music, Education & Professional Studies) with 60+ degree programs and a tuition-and-fees-based public university revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), College & Career Exploration Camps (Pre-College Samplers, Pathways) (EDAMALAN), Pre-College Summer/Winter Academic Programs (High School Students) (EDAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Music education programs
• Teacher education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: SUNY Potsdam generates primary revenue through tuition and mandatory fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students. As a public SUNY institution, tuition rates follow state guidelines for in-state and out-of-state students.
2. Financial Aid Distribution: The institution distributes financial aid including grants, scholarships, and student loans to support enrollment.
3. Crane Youth Music Summer Camp: Revenue from residential and commuter tuition for the Crane Youth Music summer camp program for middle and high school musicians ages 12-18.
4. Campus Housing and Dining: Revenue from student housing (townhouses, residence halls) and dining services.
5. Alumni Giving and Donations: Annual giving programs, reunion event fees, and scholarship donations from alumni and friends.
6. Gear Shop/Merchandise: Revenue from the SUNY Potsdam Gear Shop (college store) selling merchandise and apparel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SUNY Potsdam is a public university delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three academic schools — the Crane School of Music, the School of Arts & Sciences (60+ programs), and the School of Education & Professional Studies — with 100% of students participating in applied learning experiences. Beyond degree programs, the institution provides on-campus housing and dining, the Lougheed Learning Commons (with Makerspace, Math Lab, Writers' Block), College Libraries (Crumb and Crane), the Office of Accommodative Services, Athletics & Recreation, and the Crane Youth Music Summer Camp for ages 12–18.

Product overview

SUNY Potsdam is a public university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio through three academic units: the Crane School of Music (specializing in music education, performance, and composition), the School of Arts & Sciences (offering 60+ degree programs across humanities and sciences), and the School of Education & Professional Studies (focusing on education, kinesiology, and business). The institution emphasizes applied learning, with 100% of students participating in experiential education opportunities. Beyond academics, SUNY Potsdam provides student support services including the Office of Accommodative Services (managing disability accommodations through the Accommodate Portal platform), College Libraries (Crumb and Crane libraries with interlibrary loan and resource sharing via ALMA/Primo systems), the Lougheed Learning Commons (housing the Makerspace with 3D printing, tutoring centers, and collaborative spaces), and campus recreation including athletics. The institution also runs the Crane Youth Music summer camp for middle and high school musicians ages 12-18.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crane School of Music

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students participate in applied learning experiences as part of their degree requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner13-year partnership on the Spruce Grouse Translocation Program to restore endangered spruce grouse populations to the Adirondacks. The program relocates birds from Ontario and Maine to New York's boreal forests to improve genetic diversity and population numbers. Led by Dr. Glenn Johnson and alumna Angie Ross '02, the program provides applied learning opportunities for students while supporting statewide conservation goals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Clarkson University: Located in Potsdam, NY directly alongside SUNY Potsdam; while STEM-focused and private, it competes for the same North Country student catchment and partnership opportunities.

Direct peers

• SUNY Geneseo: Public SUNY comprehensive college of similar size with a strong liberal arts core, comparable tuition structure, and same 4-year residential model — a direct enrollment competitor within the SUNY system.
• SUNY New Paltz: Public SUNY comprehensive with a strong liberal arts and teacher education core, comparable size and tuition structure.
• SUNY Brockport: Public SUNY comprehensive with overlapping programs in Education, Arts & Sciences, and applied learning — directly competes for the same regional applicant base.
• St. Lawrence University: Private liberal arts college located in Canton, NY — the most proximate peer in North Country with overlapping liberal arts and sciences offerings and a regional applicant pool.
• SUNY Oneonta: Closely-comparable public SUNY comprehensive with similar liberal arts emphasis, similar enrollment scale, and direct competition for high school applicants in New York.
• SUNY Plattsburgh: Public SUNY comprehensive in New York's North Country with similar enrollment scale, tuition model, and a comparable regional-recruitment profile for traditional-age undergraduates.
• SUNY Cortland: Public SUNY comprehensive with overlapping Education and Arts & Sciences offerings; competes for similar in-state applicant pools and shares the SUNY shared-services stack.
• SUNY Oswego: Public SUNY comprehensive with similar size and broad program mix; overlaps with SUNY Potsdam in Arts & Sciences and Education recruitment.

Emerging players

• Eastman School of Music: University of Rochester's Eastman School is a peer music conservatory comparable to SUNY Potsdam's Crane School in reputation and in the applicant pool for talented young musicians.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SUNYPotsdam1816
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheSUNYPotsdam
• Facebookfacebook.com/114157705283651
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suny-potsdam
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunypotsdam

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SUNY at Potsdam