How to Apply to Psychology at Binghamton University: The BA in Psychology in Harpur College, Declared by the End of Sophomore Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York, psychology is taught in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate degree is the BA in Psychology; the department also offers a BS in Integrative Neuroscience. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Binghamton’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Admission and when you choose psychology

• Admission to Harpur College: BA applicants receive a decision on admission to Harpur College; there is no separate application to psychology.
• Declaring the major: the department encourages students to declare by the end of sophomore year and to meet a psychology advisor for planning. Transfer students should contact the department’s advisor when they arrive.
• Tracks: the major includes an Autism Spectrum Disorder track with practicum work at the on-campus Institute for Child Development.

2. BA in Psychology requirements

• Credits: 60–64, made up of 14 or 15 four-credit lecture or seminar courses plus one four-credit lab.
• Three core courses: PSYC 111 General Psychology, PSYC 243 Statistical Analysis and Design, PSYC 344 Research Methods in Psychology. MATH 147 and 148 are not accepted for PSYC 243.
• Three foundational courses and one matching lab, chosen from memory, perception, learning, cognition, psychotherapy, behavioral neuroscience and psychological tests.
• 400-level: two four-credit courses; eight credits of research or internship can replace one.
• 24 credits of math and science electives, including 16 credits of non-PSYC math and science (at least 8 from one department).
• Grades: C or higher in PSYC 111 and PSYC 243, and C- or better in all other courses used for the major; psychology courses may be retaken only once. At least 16 major credits must be taken at Binghamton.
• Honors: a GPA of at least 3.5 in all psychology courses and 3.0 overall, plus a thesis with a proposal, data analysis and oral defense, leading to graduation with “Distinguished Independent Work in Psychology.” Find a mentor in the spring of junior year.

3. Deadlines for international first-year applicants

• Early Action: apply by 1 November, decision 15 January.
• Regular admission: apply by 15 March, decision by 1 April.
• These are priority deadlines; later applications are reviewed on a space-available basis. (The domestic first-year regular deadline is 15 January; international applicants should follow the international page.)
• How to apply: the Common App, the SUNY Application or the Coalition Application. The fee is $50, and international students are not eligible for fee waivers.
• Transcripts: official transcripts for the most recent three years, listing all courses and grades, with English translations if needed, sent by a school officer.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: SAT and ACT are not required; you choose whether scores are included in your review, and they can also be used to show English proficiency.
• English is required: every international applicant who is not a native English speaker must submit at least one English score, even at an English-medium school and even if test optional. Students with four years at an English-medium school may request a waiver at international@binghamton.edu. Scores must be under two years old.
• Middle 50% English scores (not minimums):
  • TOEFL: 80–95 before 21 January 2026, or 4.0–5.0 on the new scale;
  • IELTS 6.5–7.0; Duolingo 110–120; PTE 53–65; Cambridge 176–185;
  • SAT EBRW 530–640; ACT English 21–27.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: Binghamton publishes no Gaokao policy and no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements. Admissions also runs a Chinese-language website and a WeChat account.

5. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 international budget (US$): tuition 29,840, fees 6,485 (excluding the SEVIS fee), housing and meals 20,179, for an estimated total of about 56,504. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
• Proof of funding: F-1 or J-1 students must submit the International Student Financial Statement and bank statements covering the first year before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued.
• Scholarships:
  • President’s, Provost’s and Dean’s Scholarships are awarded at admission with no application, in varying amounts;
  • Achievement Scholarships: twenty first-year students receive $10,000 a year and five receive up to the in-state cost of attendance (about $30,000) a year for up to four years; all applicants are considered automatically.
  Binghamton does not state whether international students are eligible, so check with admissions.

6. Transfer students

• Priority deadlines for international transfers: 1 March for fall and 15 November for spring, with rolling decisions; later applications are considered as space allows.
• Harpur College: most successful applicants had a GPA of 3.0 or higher; a general education curriculum is preferred; no specific prerequisites.
• Materials: official transcripts from every college; applicants with more than 24 college credits after high school do not need to submit a final high school transcript at application, while those with fewer must. SAT/ACT are optional.
• English: two non-ESL English courses at a US college with grades of B or better, or one test score as above (under two years old). All students take an English placement exam at orientation.
• Credit: courses on the transfer equivalency table transfer automatically; others can be petitioned through the Psychology Course Evaluation Form with a full syllabus, reviewed by psychology faculty.
• Scholarships: several awards each fall for Phi Theta Kappa members from US or international two-year schools, by application.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App, SUNY or Coalition by 1 November (Early Action) or 15 March (regular)
• Send official transcripts for the last three years with translations
• Submit an English score (required; TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo and others, under two years old); decide on SAT/ACT
• Prepare proof of funding for the first year

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; no Canada-specific grade requirements are published
• Non-native English speakers also submit an English score; four years at an English-medium school can be grounds for a waiver request

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 March (fall) or 15 November (spring); past Harpur admits mostly had a 3.0+ GPA
• Meet a psychology advisor early and petition course equivalencies; at least 16 major credits must be earned at Binghamton

Sources: Binghamton University, International first-year applicants; First-year applicants and deadlines; International transfer applicants; Transfer applicants; Estimated costs 2026-27; Scholarships; Psychology undergraduate programs; BA in Psychology requirements; Honors in Psychology. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Binghamton for the latest details.