Use our summary of outside opinions and develop your own college search criteria to choose a college that is right for you. Remember, some of the best aspects of a college experience are measured by fit and feel, not by numbers and rankings. We’ve gathered past and present perspectives to highlight the diversity of SUNY campuses and their surrounding communities. Here are a few that caught our eye . . .
For more details about SUNY campus ratings and rankings, visit individual campus websites.
Best College Values in America (Public Colleges/National Universities), 2016-2021:
Campuses...
Albany, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Cortland, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook
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Top Public School, 2019: Binghamton (#14), Geneseo (#39)
Best 386 Colleges/Best Colleges Overall/Best Northeast Colleges/Best Green Colleges/Colleges That Pay You Back/Most Engaged in Community Service/Top 75 Best Value Public Colleges/Top Green Colleges, 2016-2021:
Campuses...
Albany, Alfred State, Alfred University, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Cortland, ESF, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook
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Top Green Colleges, 2021:
ESF (#2)
LGBTQ Friendly, 2021:
Purchase (#20)
Best College Theater, 2019:
Purchase (#1)
Top 50 Green Colleges, 2019:
ESF (#2)
Best Career Placement, 2019:
Maritime (#5)
Best College Newspaper, 2019:
Binghamton (#10)
A+ Schools for B+ Students/America's Best Colleges/Best Buy Colleges/Best Engineering Colleges and Universities/Best National Colleges and Universities/Best Online Bachelor’s and Engineering Degree Programs/Best Online Master’s Degree Programs (Business Administration, Nursing, Education, Information Technology)/Best National Liberal Arts Colleges/Best Regional Colleges and Universities for Veterans (North)/Great Schools, Great Prices/Top Public Schools (National and Regional)/Undergraduate Research, 2016-2021:
Campuses...
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, Canton, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Empire State, ESF, Farmingdale State, Fashion Institute of Technology, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, Morrisville, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook, SUNY Poly
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Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, 2021:
University at Buffalo (#8)
Best Regional Universities North, 2020:
SUNY Poly (#12); Geneseo (#14)
Best Regional Colleges North, 2020:
Alfred State (#10); Delhi (#15); Cobleskill (#19)
Top Public Schools (Nationally), 2020:
Binghamton, University at Buffalo (#31-tie); Stony Brook (#39)
Undergraduate Research (Nationally), 2020:
Geneseo (#59)
Undergraduate Teaching (Regional Universities North), 2017:
Geneseo (#1)
Best Value School (National), 2017:
ESF (#40)
Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs, 2017:
SUNY Poly (#25)
Military-Friendly Colleges, through 2018:
Campuses...
Adirondack, Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, Broome, Buffalo State, University at Buffalo, Canton, Cayuga, Clinton, Cobleskill, Columbia-Greene, Corning, Delhi, Empire State, Erie, Farmingdale State, Finger Lakes, Fredonia, Hudson Valley, Jamestown, Jefferson, Maritime, Mohawk Valley, Monroe, Morrisville, Nassau, New Paltz, Niagara County, North Country, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Onondaga, Oswego, Orange, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Rockland, Schenectady, Stony Brook, SUNY Poly, Tompkins-Cortland, Ulster, Westchester
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Top campuses for community service and service learning, through 2016:
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Buffalo State, Cobleskill, Cortland**, Delhi, Downstate Medical Center, FIT, Fredonia**, Geneseo**, Monroe, Morrisville, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Onondaga, Oswego**, Plattsburgh, Stony Brook
**Honor Roll with distinction
Best Two-Year Colleges in New York, 2016:
Corning (#1), Columbia-Greene (#2), Suffolk County (#3), SUNY Broome (#5), Niagara County (#6), Dutchess (#7), Nassau (#8), Rockland (#9), Schenectady County (#10)
Best Online Programs in New York, 2016:
Alfred State (#3), Stony Brook (#5), Plattsburgh (#9)
50 Best Values Bachelor's in Engineering, 2017:
Binghamton, University at Buffalo, Stony Brook
U.S. Colleges that Payoff the Most - Public Universities, 2019:
Maritime (#23)
Top Community Colleges in New York, 2016:
Herkimer (#2), Columbia-Greene (#3), Nassau (#4), Ulster (#5), Niagara County (#6), Mohawk Valley (#7), Sullivan (#8), Clinton (#9), Rockland (#10)
Top Fashion School in the World, 2016:
FIT (#7)
Top 20 Public Fashion Design School Programs in the U.S., 2016:
FIT (#1)
Best Colleges in America and Best Public Colleges/Universities, 2015-2019:
Albany, Binghamton, University at Buffalo, ESF, Farmingdale State, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Oneonta, Stony Brook
Top STEM Schools, 2018:
Stony Brook (#22)
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, 2016:
Buffalo State
Best for Vets College:
Cobleskill (2017)
Best Colleges for Your Money, 2019-2020:
Top 50 - Binghamton (#31), Stony Brook (#47)
Top 100 - ESF (#71), Albany (#85), University at Buffalo (#99)
Additionally Ranked – Alfred State, Brockport, Buffalo State, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Purchase, Potsdam, SUNY Poly
Top 10 BFA Programs in the Country, 2016-17:
Purchase
Theatre Design & Tech Programs (#8)
Dance (#10)
Best Universities and Colleges by Salary Potential, 2018:
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Downstate Medical Center, Empire State, ESF, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, SUNY Poly, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook, Upstate Medical University
Best National College by Salary Potential, 2018:
Maritime (#4)
School where business students go on to earn the most money in their careers, 2017:
Albany (#4)
The Top 20 Coolest Schools 2020:
ESF (#6)
Best Free Museum, 2016:
The Museum at FIT (#9)
Nationwide College Rankings/Top Northeast Colleges for Student Outcomes:
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, Buffalo State, University at Buffalo, Cortland, ESF, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase
* SUNY campuses are consistently recognized in a variety of categories, and many campuses are regularly profiled in these annual reports. The ratings and rankings published here reflect 2016 through 2021.