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
* 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.