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), 2013-2018:
Campuses...
Albany, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Purchase, Stony Brook
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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, 2014-2019:
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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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)
LGBTQ Friendly, 2019:
Purchase (#15)
Best College Dorms, 2018:
ESF (#13)
Colleges That Create Futures, 2018:
Binghamton
A+ Schools for B+ Students/America's Best Colleges/Best Buy Colleges/Best National Liberal Arts Colleges/Best Public Schools (National and Regional)/Best Regional Colleges and Universities for Veterans (North)/Great Schools, Great Prices, 2014-2019:
Campuses...
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, Canton, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, ESF, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, Morrisville, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook, SUNY Poly
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Undergraduate Teaching (Regional Universities North), 2017:
Geneseo (#1)
Best Value School (National), 2017:
ESF (#40)
Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs, 2017:
SUNY Poly (#25)
Best Online Graduate Nursing Program, 2016:
Stony Brook (#10)
Best Online Graduate Education Program, 2016:
Albany (#14)
Best Online MBA Program, 2016:
Oswego (#20)
Military-Friendly Colleges, 2013-2018:
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, 2012 - 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)
Most Amazing College Campus Theater, 2014:
Rockefeller Arts Center at Fredonia (#19)
50 Best Values Bachelor's in Engineering, 2017:
Binghamton, University at Buffalo, Stony Brook
Top 35 Music Business Program, 2014:
Crane School of Music at Potsdam
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, 2014-2019:
Albany, Binghamton, University at Buffalo, ESF, Farmingdale, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Oneonta, Stony Brook
Top STEM Schools, 2018:
Stony Brook (#22)
Overall Best Value College, 2016:
Binghamton (#15 Nationwide) and (#4 Northeast)
Best 25 Drama Schools, 2014:
Purchase
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, 2016:
Buffalo State
Best for Vets College:
Cobleskill (2017); Empire State (2014)
Top 10 Colleges for Music Education Majors in U.S., 2015:
Potsdam (#4), Fredonia (#9)
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)
Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges, 2014:
ESF, Geneseo
Best Free Museum, 2016:
The Museum at FIT (#9)
* 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 2013 through 2019.