Montreal is only about an hour away, which surprises people who think of Plattsburgh as simply upstate New York. The SUNY campus sits near the western shore of Lake Champlain, with the Adirondack Mountains behind it. It's a mid-sized public college known for hotel and tourism management, nursing, environmental science and accounting. International students make up a noticeable share of the campus.
Plattsburgh, New York, United States
Official website: plattsburgh.edu
1889
Public college in the SUNY system
Lake Champlain, an hour from Montreal
$18,000 – $22,000
International students, undergraduate tuition and fees
$13,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on plattsburgh.edu before you apply.
BS Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
BS Accounting
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
BS Environmental Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
Hotel and tourism management with hands-on hospitality training.
Lake Champlain research on the college's doorstep.
A border location an hour from Montreal.
Hospitality graduates work in hotels and resorts around the Adirondacks and beyond.
Accounting and business graduates join firms in upstate New York and New York City.
Plattsburgh's rail car and bus plants hire some technical graduates.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is a short walk from downtown Plattsburgh and the lakefront. Most first- and second-year students live in residence halls.
Winters are cold and snowy, and the Adirondacks offer skiing and hiking within an hour. Montreal is close, though you need your passport and visa papers to cross the border and come back.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Plattsburgh admits on a rolling basis. International students should apply by about May for fall and November for spring, to leave time for the I-20 and visa.
Students start in fall (late August) or spring (January).
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, State University of New York at Plattsburgh issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Hotel, restaurant and tourism management, accounting, environmental science, computer science and nursing are popular. You need secondary school results and English at about IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 70. Nursing has limited places and extra requirements.
Plattsburgh gives merit scholarships to international undergraduates at admission, based on grades. Check the international admissions page for current amounts and conditions.
