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.
Rankings analyze 800 colleges and universities across America and include these SUNY campuses for 2023:
University at Buffalo (#124), Stony Brook (#125), Binghamton (#163); Albany (#188); Alfred State; Brockport; Buffalo State; Cortland; ESF; Farmingdale; Fredonia; Geneseo; New Paltz; Oneonta; Oswego; Plattsburgh; Potsdam; Purchase
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, 2017-2022:
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)
Great College Theater, 2022:
Purchase
Best Value Colleges (Public), 2022:
Binghamton (#20); Stony Brook (#26)
Top 20 Best Schools for Making an Impact (Public), 2022:
ESF (#1)
Top 20 Best Schools for Financial Aid (Public), 2022:
ESF (#9)
Top 20 Best Career Placement (Public), 2022:
Binghamton (#18)
A+ Schools for B+ Students/America's Best Colleges/Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs/Best Buy Colleges/Best Engineering Colleges and Universities/Best National Colleges and Universities/Best Liberal Arts Colleges/Best Online Programs/Best Regional Colleges and Universities (North)/Best Value Schools/Great Schools, Great Prices/Top Public Schools (National and Regional)/Undergraduate Research/Top Performers in Social Mobility, 2018-2023
Campuses...
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, Canton, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Downstate Health Sciences University, 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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Top Public Schools (Nationally), 2023:
Stony Brook (#31); Binghamton (#35); University at Buffalo (#38); ESF (#48)
Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs, 2023:
University at Buffalo (#25)
Best Regional Universities North, 2023:
SUNY Poly (#9); Geneseo (#16); New Paltz (#22); Maritime (#40)
Best Liberal Arts Colleges, 2023:
Purchase College
Best Regional Colleges North, 2023:
Alfred State (#9); Delhi (#14); Cobleskill (#15); Canton (#17); Farmingdale State (#24); Morrisville (#29)
Top Performers in Social Mobility, 2022:
Old Westbury (#11); Alfred State (#13); Canton (#15); Cobleskill (#16); SUNY Poly (#19); Buffalo State (#20)
Military-Friendly Colleges:
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:
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
U.S. Colleges that Payoff the Most - Public Universities, 2019:
Maritime (#23)
Best Colleges in America and Best Public Colleges/Universities, 2017-2022:
Albany, Binghamton, University at Buffalo, Cortland, ESF, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, SUNY Poly, Purchase, Stony Brook
Top STEM Schools, 2018:
Stony Brook (#22)
Best College Values in America (Public Colleges/National Universities), through 2019:
Albany, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Cortland, Farmingdale State, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook
Best Public Colleges, 2022: Maritime (#48)
Best Colleges in the Northeast, 2022: Maritime (#35); Binghamton (#44)
Best Colleges for Engineering Majors, 2022: Maritime (#42)
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
Best Universities and Colleges by Salary Potential, through 2022:
Albany, Alfred State, Binghamton, Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Empire State, ESF, Farmingdale, FIT, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, SUNY Poly, Potsdam, Purchase, Stony Brook, Upstate Medical University
Best National College by Salary Potential, 2022:
Maritime (#3)
The Top 20 Coolest Schools 2020:
ESF (#6)
* 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 2018 through 2023.