Academics, Value, Performance – U.S. News & World Report Ranks Many SUNY Schools to 2019 Best Colleges Rankings

With over 5,000 colleges and universities to choose from in the United States, today’s students need to know what makes each campus unique and what each school offers so they can make one of the most important decisions of their lives thus far. One mode of data that students and their families frequently reference when searching for the perfect school is college rankings. More specifically, many college-bound individuals hold the U.S. News & World Report’s Best College Rankings lists in high regard when researching schools.

The publication recently released its 2019 rankings, and a number of SUNY schools are featured on the various lists. This year,  U.S. News has made substantial changes to its Best Colleges rankings methodology by placing the highest value on student outcomes from 30% last year to now 35%. In addition, the 2019 methodology includes new social mobility markets to measure how well schools succeed at enrolling and graduating students from low-income families.

Other new or updated ranking criterion includes Pell Grant graduation rates; specialty programs in undergraduate business, engineering, and more; and changes to how graduation and retention rate numerical rankings are calculated. Moreover, acceptance rate was removed as a ranking indicator, and the weight of expert opinions, SAT/ACT scores, and high school class standing was reduced.

SUNY’s presence on the numerous lists is reflective of the high quality, individualized education that our 64 campuses provide to our nearly 1.4 million students.

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson showed pride in the number of SUNY schools placed on these lists, saying “To see a number of our schools represented in the ‘U.S. News & World Report’ college rankings is a source of pride for SUNY, as it shows that our system is a leader in higher education and that our students receive a high quality education at our colleges. Through educational and research opportunities, extracurricular activities, and hands on learning experiences, every campus within our system provides our 1.4 million students with the experiences and skills they need to thrive”

See how SUNY schools were placed on a variety of lists in this year’s US News & World Report Best College Rankings below.

National Universities

Best National Universities

80. Binghamton University
80. Stony Brook University
89. University at Buffalo
106. SUNY ESF
140. University at Albany

Best Value Schools (national universities)

38. SUNY ESF
62. Binghamton University
82. University at Albany
102. University at Buffalo
118. Stony Brook University

Top Public Schools (national universities)

32. Binghamton University
32. Stony Brook University
38. University at Buffalo
46. SUNY ESF
70. University at Albany

Best National Liberal Arts Colleges

172. Purchase College

Regional Colleges

Best Regional Colleges – North

12. College of Technology – Alfred State
14. SUNY Cobleskill
18. SUNY Delhi
19. Farmingdale State College
26. SUNY Canton
26. SUNY Morrisville

Top Public Schools (regional colleges north)

5. College of Technology – Alfred State
7. SUNY Cobleskill
8. SUNY Delhi
9. Farmingdale State College
11. SUNY Canton
11. SUNY Morrisville

Best Colleges for Veterans (regional colleges north)

6. College of Technology – Alfred State
8. SUNY Cobleskill
11. SUNY Delhi
12. Farmingdale State College

Regional Universities

Best Regional Universities – North

14. SUNY Geneseo
18. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
41. SUNY New Paltz
48. SUNY Oswego
50. SUNY Fredonia
55. SUNY Oneonta
68. SUNY Cortland
74. SUNY Maritime College
87. SUNY Potsdam
87. SUNY Plattsburgh
90. College at Brockport
103. SUNY Buffalo State College
104. SUNY Old Westbury – 142-187

Best Value Schools  (regional universities north)

8. SUNY Oswego
11. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
41. SUNY Geneseo
55. SUNY Plattsburgh
60. SUNY New Paltz
65. SUNY Fredonia
77. SUNY Potsdam
81. College at Brockport
86. SUNY Maritime College

Top Public Schools (regional universities north)

2. SUNY Geneseo – 2
3. SUNY Polytechnic Institute – 3
10. SUNY New Paltz – 10
11. SUNY Oswego -11
12. SUNY Fredonia -12
14. SUNY Oneonta -14
17. SUNY Cortland – 17
19. SUNY Maritime College -19
22. SUNY Potsdam -22
22. SUNY Plattsburgh -22
25. College at Brockport -25
29. SUNY Buffalo State College – 29

Best Colleges for Veterans (regional universities north)

8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
22. SUNY New Paltz
28. SUNY Oswego
38. SUNY Cortland
42. SUNY Maritime
47. SUNY Potsdam
47. SUNY Plattsburgh
50. College at Brockport

Written by Julie Maio

Julie is a Communications Assistant at SUNY System Administration.