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Binghamton

Binghamton University

Binghamton skips the supplement, which means your Common App personal statement carries the whole application.

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Supplemental essays

None required

Required essay

Common App personal statement

Word limit

650 words

Testing

Test-optional

What Binghamton rewards

Here is the part that surprises most applicants: Binghamton University does not require a supplemental essay for the 2025-26 cycle. There is no "Why Binghamton" question, no community prompt, no short-answer section. The only essay the admissions office reads is your Common App personal statement, capped at 650 words, the same one you send to every other school on your list.

That sounds like a relief, and partly it is. But it also raises the stakes. Binghamton is test-optional, and just over half of admitted students submitted scores, so for many files the personal statement is the single most human document in the application. With a 38% acceptance rate and an applicant pool full of 3.8 GPAs, your essay is often the thing that decides whether you read as a transcript or as a person. The challenge is not picking a clever prompt. It is making 650 words do the work a whole supplement would normally share.

01A real person behind a strong transcript. Binghamton sees thousands of academically similar files. The essay is where you stop being a GPA and start being a specific human with a voice, a habit, a contradiction. They reward writing that could only have been produced by you.
02Follow-through and grit. Binghamton is a rigorous public flagship that prizes students who finish what they start. Essays that show sustained effort, recovery from a setback, or a quiet daily discipline land better than one-time dramatic moments.
03Curiosity that points somewhere. Even without a 'why us' prompt, the school wants to picture you in a seminar or lab. An essay that reveals genuine intellectual or creative curiosity helps an officer imagine you thriving on campus.
04Clarity over flash. Binghamton readers move fast through huge volume. Clean, concrete, well-organized writing that respects their time reads as maturity. Purple prose and thesaurus words read as nerves.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for Binghamton, each broken down with annotated examples.

Common App Personal Statement650 words

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

See all 1 prompt and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Binghamton and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Action deadlineNovember 1
Early Action decisionsby January 15
Regular Decision deadlineJanuary 15
Regular Decision decisionsby April 1

Cost

Sticker price$31,950
Avg net after aid$17,200
Meets full needPartial
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Explore Binghamton
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Binghamton weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $17,200/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Binghamton interview? Format, tips, and practice The Binghamton Reader ProScore your draft against Binghamton's exact prompts
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Binghamton FAQ

What is Binghamton's acceptance rate?

Binghamton admitted about 38% of applicants for the Class of 2028 (20,464 admits from 53,007 applications). The enrolled class averaged a 3.8 GPA, with 81% holding a 3.75 or higher and 98% ranking in the top half of their graduating class. For the roughly half who submitted scores, the middle 50% landed at 1360-1480 SAT and 31-34 ACT. Binghamton is test-optional. At Binghamton, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Binghamton require?

Binghamton requires 1 supplemental essay on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Binghamton cost?

Binghamton's published sticker price is about $31,950 per year, but the average family pays $17,200 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Binghamton require SAT or ACT scores?

Binghamton is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Binghamton's application deadlines?

Binghamton's application deadlines are Early Action deadline November 1; Early Action decisions by January 15; Regular Decision deadline January 15; Regular Decision decisions by April 1. Add Binghamton to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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