The State University of New York at Oswego was founded in 1861 as the Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School by Edward Austin Sheldon, who embraced and popularized some of the most innovative teaching methods of his day. In 1913, the institution — then known as the Oswego Normal School — moved from the city of Oswego to the current lakeside location following the construction and opening of what is now known as Sheldon Hall.
In 1942, state legislation elevated the institution from a normal school to the degree-granting Oswego State Teachers College. In 1948, Oswego became a charter member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. To meet the expanded need for specialized instruction, the institution broadened its academic perspective to become a comprehensive arts and sciences institution within the SUNY system, offering a range of liberal and professional studies by 1962.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Oswego's student body experienced significant growth, leading to extensive campus development, including the addition of numerous new buildings. In 1992, the institution reorganized into the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and School of Education. Further restructuring occurred in 2007 with the establishment of the School of Communication, Media, and the Arts, and in 2008, the College of Arts and Sciences was renamed the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The campus has undergone substantial renovation and renewal, including the opening of the Marano Campus Center and the Shineman Center for Science, Engineering, and Innovation.
To accommodate the growing needs of part-time adult students, predominantly at the graduate level, SUNY Oswego established an extension site in Syracuse in 2008. This site has since expanded to a branch campus, enabling the college to offer bachelor's degree completion programs and expanded graduate-level degrees at what is now SUNY Oswego's Syracuse Campus.
As one of 13 university colleges in the SUNY system, Oswego enrolls a diverse student body and boasts a global alumni network. The university offers a wide array of undergraduate majors, minors, and graduate programs, reflecting its commitment to providing comprehensive and diverse educational opportunities.