For many high school students, choosing a college is not only about getting an education; it’s also an opportunity for them to leave their hometown and explore the world. With many well-known songs and movies featuring New York as the setting of a new chapter, it’s no surprise that it’s the second most popular state to go to college.
But, New York has hundreds of colleges and universities to choose from! Trying to research and narrow down your search for colleges in New York that align with your interests can be time-consuming. That’s why we have done the research on the best colleges in New York for you! Here are our rankings of the 15 top colleges in New York.
What is New York like?
New York can be a bit of a mystery for those who have never been there before. From the Adirondacks, to Niagara Falls, to the Atlantic Ocean, to New York City—this massive state has so many different campuses for students to explore! So let’s help you envision what universities in NY can be like!
In terms of weather and the seasons, New York has all four classic seasons. It’s cold and snowy in the winter, hot with a chance of humidity in the summer, and somewhere in between in fall and spring. Students who are looking at New York colleges can expect diverse weather seasons.
New York has numerous large cities, but the most well-known is New York City. With a population of over 8 million, it’s no wonder that there are over 100 colleges and universities in NYC alone. Students come from all over the world to learn and explore this famous city.
Even though New York State is well known for NYC, there are so many other fun things to do! In upstate New York, there are numerous outdoor recreation activities like hiking, skiing, kayaking, and so much more. So whether you enjoy the bustling city life or the quiet outdoors, finding colleges in New York should be easy. After all, there are a wide variety of campuses to choose from!
What are the best colleges in New York?
Every college has different offerings and opportunities for students. So, how do you rank the best New York colleges? Our ranking of the top colleges in New York is pulled from StudyLab, a free college and career prep platform for students.
With there being hundreds of colleges in New York to choose from, we feature a mixture of Ivy League universities, medium-sized colleges, and community colleges in New York for aspiring college students to explore.
Colleges and Universities in New York
For students who are interested in attending an Ivy League university or spending four years at the same college, these seven colleges may be the right fit for you!
New York University
New York University (more commonly known as NYU) provides students with a unique learning environment with its campus buildings scattered throughout downtown Manhattan in NYC. NYU students get to experience what life is like in the “Big Apple”.
NYU is known as one of the best colleges in New York City because of its programs in the sciences, engineering, and business. It’s also well known for its art programs where students can study and earn their undergraduate or graduate degree.
NYU has some unique ways of helping applicants and new students. They are a test-optional college—where students have the option to submit their standardized test scores or leave them out of their application. New York University also provides a great financial aid opportunity— they have made a promise that for first-year undergraduates, families that make less than $100,000 per year, will not have to pay for tuition.
Cornell University
Another well-known school that is located in New York is Cornell University. As a private research university, Cornell University has 8 undergraduate colleges and schools and over 4,000 courses for students to choose from. As an Ivy League school, Cornell University is known for many of its academic programs, particularly science and engineering.
For students who want to attend a college that has a historic, small-town feel—Cornell University may be the right choice. Cornell University’s main campus is located in Ithaca, New York, where there are numerous historic buildings and several beautiful parks with trees and bodies of water.
Columbia University
Located in Manhattan, this Ivy League is one of the most prestigious colleges in NYC. Columbia University is a competitive school to get into—with only a 4% acceptance rate. But, that’s to be expected with any Ivy League school.
Columbia University is well known for being a research institution. With 17 schools and 4 affiliated schools for research, students who are interested in research have their selection to choose from. For students who are interested in nursing, Columbia University has one of the leading nursing schools in New York.
Columbia University is also the first (and only!) permanently test-optional Ivy League college, where applicants can choose if they want to submit their standardized test scores.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university that has 13 schools and colleges. This college has an acceptance rate of 52%, as well as a test-optional policy for first-year applicants. The most popular major at this school is Communication.
Syracuse University is well known for its basketball team, Syracuse Orange, which has won 3 National Championships. Basketball is a huge part of campus life at Syracuse! Additionally, this campus is known for having the best Greek life in New York.
Located in Syracuse, New York, this university campus offers students the opportunity to experience a larger city with historical buildings while also being close to woodland areas.
CUNY City College
Founded in 1961, The City University of New York is a public university system that is also referred to as CUNY. It’s known for being the largest urban university system in the U.S. and has 25 campuses. CUNY’s campuses are spread out across NYC’s five boroughs, so students can experience college life in the heart of NYC.
Their colleges are a mixture of community colleges, graduate schools, and colleges with a specific subject focus—so students have a variety of schools to choose from depending on what they want to study.
Students who are interested in studying engineering may be interested in CUNY City College, as it’s one of the top colleges to study engineering. The City College campus is located not far from Central Park, making this a great place for students who want to experience some of the most iconic scenery the city has to offer.
Pace University
For students who are interested in attending a college in New York City, this private university may be the one for you! Students have a good shot at being accepted with Pace’s acceptance rate of 83%. Pace has a total enrollment of over 14,000 students
Pace University offers over 100 undergraduate degree programs and over 80 graduate degree programs. Their most popular major is Business Marketing. The average tuition cost per year for students is $30,759.
Pace University prides itself on being able to provide students with real-world experiences, like internships, through its campus. They also offer opportunities for students to assist with tuition costs and financial aid through scholarships and grants.
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is Long Island’s largest private university. This university’s campus offers students the opportunity to learn in a suburban area with 244 acres while also only being 40 minutes away from NYC.
Hofstra University has an acceptance rate of 69% and has a total enrollment of over 11,000 students. They have several well-ranked schools such as engineering, education, law, and business. Hofstra also helps students with financial aid by awarding various scholarships and grants to their enrolled undergraduates.
This college is test-optional for U.S.-based students. Hofstra also offers multiple types of scholarships for first-year or transfer students to assist with financial aid.
Best State University of New York (SUNY) Colleges
The State University of New York (also referred to as SUNY) is a collection of public colleges and universities that are located throughout New York State. With 64 individual campuses, it’s the largest system of higher education in the United States. Students who are residents of New York who are looking for more affordable college options can save money because they qualify for in-state tuition savings at these colleges.
For students who are interested in applying to colleges that are test-optional, applying to SUNY schools may be the right fit! SUNY colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees have temporarily suspended their standardized testing requirements, but students also still have the option to submit their test scores if they want to.
SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo SUNY is a 4-year university that is located in Buffalo, New York. Students who are interested in attending a college that is in a larger city with historical buildings—this may be a good fit for you!
Some popular majors offered at this school include business, education, engineering, health professions, and marketing. Buffalo SUNY has an 86% acceptance rate and a total enrollment of over 6,000 students.
SUNY Buffalo State University can assist with financial aid for students through a variety of scholarships. There are over 160+ scholarship opportunities that are offered for Buffalo SUNY students.
Binghamton University
Binghamton University is one of the best public universities in the northeast. Located in Binghamton, NY, this 4-year university is ideal for students who are looking to attend a college with a campus that is surrounded by nature and a short distance from a historic downtown.
With an acceptance rate of 42%, SUNY Binghamton is a large university with over 16,000 students enrolled. It’s a moderately competitive school to get into, but it is known for being a top research institution with seven national awards for innovation in international education. This college offers over 130 majors for students to choose from.
Binghamton University offers students a variety of scholarships if they have a need for financial aid assistance. Students who are first-year, international, or graduate students at SUNY Binghamton can apply to assist with tuition costs.
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is a public research university that is located in the Stony Brook area on the north shore of Long Island. This campus is in a suburban area and has over 1,454 acres. Students can enjoy campus life in a suburban town, while still being close to various cool places in the Long Island area. Since Stony Brook is one of only a few schools in New York with a train station on campus, students can even take the Long Island Railroad into NYC.
This university has a 49% acceptance rate with a total enrollment of over 17,000 students. Some popular majors that Stony Brook offers include engineering, computer science, business, clinical and health, and psychology. They also have an amazing nursing program—ranking #9 out of 185 in Best Online Master’s Nursing Program.
Stony Brook offers a variety of merit or need-based scholarships for students that attend their school.
SUNY Cortland
For students who are looking for a college with historical charm and located in the suburbs, SUNY Cortland may be the right college for them. One of the founding colleges of the SUNY system, Cortland is one of New York’s top public universities.
With an acceptance rate of 60% and a total enrollment of over 6,000 students, this public university is perfect for students who are looking for a medium-sized college. Cortland had over 68 majors such as business, chemistry, criminology, health education, and so many more!
Each year, Cortland provides over $1 million in scholarships to its students. They have numerous scholarships that students can apply for to help ease their financial situation.
SUNY College at Geneseo
This college is a public liberal arts college located in Geneseo, New York. Students who are interested in obtaining a liberal arts degree should consider SUNY College at Geneseo—they have over 150 liberal arts programs for students to choose from.
SUNY College at Geneseo is a smaller college, with just under 4,000 students. Because of its smaller enrollment size, that means it also has smaller class sizes—so students can have a more personal learning experience.
SUNY Geneseo has a variety of scholarships available for first-year, transfer, out-of-state, international, and current students.
Top Community Colleges in New York
Attending a community college can be a great opportunity for students to get introduced to college, without the pressure that may come with attending a 4-year university. There are so many good community colleges in NY, but we have listed just a couple for you to explore your options.
Monroe Community College
Located in Rochester, New York—this 2-year college is great for students who are looking to start college in a medium-sized city. By attending school in Rochester, students can experience city life, while also being close to numerous parks in the area.
Monroe has an acceptance rate of 100%, which is very common when applying to community colleges. With 14 different areas of interest, students can start their college journey by getting familiar with college-level classes and also find out what they are passionate about.
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is located in Garden City, New York. This community college is the largest single-community college in NY state. With over 20,000 students enrolled, this community college provides numerous students with the opportunity to continue their education.
This college is also a part of the SUNY collection of colleges. Nassau Community College’s acceptance rate is 100% and they are known for their academic excellence. They also pride themselves on being an “ease of transferability to four-year schools.”
SUNY Erie
Formally known as Erie Community College, SUNY Erie is a community college that has three campuses: City Campus in Buffalo, North Campus in Williamsville, and South Campus located in Orchard Park, New York (the home of the Buffalo Bills!).
SUNY Erie has a 100% acceptance rate and has over 8,000 students that attend. This 2-year community college provides students with over 70+ degree and certification options.
By attending a community college like SUNY Erie, students can save hundreds of dollars in tuition costs. But, students who need to save even more and need help navigating the financial process can use Erie’s financial aid resources.
Recap: Good Colleges in New York
As students start to think about where to attend college after high school graduation, they may want to think about starting their next chapter at a college in New York. From big cities to historic small towns, there are numerous colleges for students to choose from that fit with their lifestyle.
If you are thinking about attending a college in New York, there are hundreds of options for you to choose from. But, through our ranking of the best colleges in New York State, we hope to make your college search a bit easier.
To search for other top colleges in other states, check out our other top college rankings on StudyLab.
Researching for the right college can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be! Check out our other resources to help ease your search.
- Explore more colleges with ease by using our College Finder tool!
- Find Test-Optional Colleges that Don’t Require SAT or ACT Scores
- Learn How to Organize School Work and College Applications: CollegeAdvisor x StudyLab
- Read The Ultimate Guide to Starting College
