Best colleges in New York
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in New York using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#25. St. Lawrence University
- Acceptance rate: 47%
- Net price: $31,578
- Enrollment: 2,249 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Party grade: A-
#24. Rochester Institute of Technology
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Net price: $36,514
- Enrollment: 12,122 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Value grade: A-
#23. CUNY Baruch College
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Net price: $3,897
- Enrollment: 12,421 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Location grade: A+
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
#22. St. Bonaventure University
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Net price: $23,748
- Enrollment: 1,787 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Party grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
#21. Stony Brook University, SUNY
- Acceptance rate: 49%
- Net price: $16,478
- Enrollment: 16,586 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A
--- Value grade: A
#20. University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Net price: $18,119
- Enrollment: 20,435 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Party grade: A
--- Professors grade: A
#19. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Acceptance rate: 37%
- Net price: $4,221
- Enrollment: 11,270 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Location grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
#18. Syracuse University
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Net price: $47,177
- Enrollment: 13,832 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: A+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+
#17. Binghamton University, SUNY
- Acceptance rate: 43%
- Net price: $19,061
- Enrollment: 13,889 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Party grade: A+
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
#16. SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
- Acceptance rate: 60%
- Net price: $22,133
- Enrollment: 1,625 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Value grade: A+
--- Dorms grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-
#15. Yeshiva University
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Net price: $35,603
- Enrollment: 2,553 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Academics grade: A
--- Professors grade: A
--- Safety grade: A
#14. United States Merchant Marine Academy
- Acceptance rate: 24%
- Net price: $4,574
- Enrollment: 1,028 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Value grade: A+
--- Safety grade: A-
--- Academics grade: B+
#13. Union College - New York
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Net price: $37,630
- Enrollment: 2,030 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Academics grade: A
--- Value grade: A
--- Party grade: A
#12. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Net price: $40,661
- Enrollment: 6,262 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Academics grade: A
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
#11. Skidmore College
- Acceptance rate: 32%
- Net price: $26,995
- Enrollment: 2,510 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Academics grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Campus food grade: A
#10. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
- Acceptance rate: 18%
- Net price: $25,005
- Enrollment: 802 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#9. Vassar College
- Acceptance rate: 25%
- Net price: $26,028
- Enrollment: 2,409 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
#8. University of Rochester
- Acceptance rate: 35%
- Net price: $36,254
- Enrollment: 6,100 (2:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#7. Hamilton College
- Acceptance rate: 18%
- Net price: $23,936
- Enrollment: 2,043 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
#6. Colgate University
- Acceptance rate: 27%
- Net price: $25,935
- Enrollment: 3,023 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Party grade: A+
#5. New York University
- Acceptance rate: 21%
- Net price: $45,417
- Enrollment: 25,854 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#4. United States Military Academy at West Point
- Acceptance rate: 9%
- Enrollment: 4,536 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Safety grade: A+
#3. Barnard College
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- Net price: $30,572
- Enrollment: 2,651 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#2. Cornell University
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Net price: $27,522
- Enrollment: 15,735 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
#1. Columbia University
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Net price: $22,126
- Enrollment: 7,509 (2:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
