The State University of New York - (SUNY) Rankings 2026

The State University of New York (SUNY) system is a beacon of educational excellence, offering diverse opportunities to students from around the world. As one of the largest university systems in the United States, SUNY is a hub of innovation, community engagement, and academic achievement.

This guide highlights SUNY's prestigious campuses, showcasing their standings in renowned global rankings, including the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News and World Report. Each institution within the SUNY system is celebrated for its unique strengths, from groundbreaking research to exceptional student support.

Explore this roadmap to find the perfect SUNY campus that aligns with your academic aspirations and career goals, paving the way for a future filled with success and opportunity.

SUNY World Rankings 2025-2026

Rankings provide valuable insights into a university's academic strengths, research capabilities, and overall reputation. They help students align their educational and career goals by choosing institutions that best match their aspirations. 

Below is a table of SUNY Universities with Global and National Rankings for the year 2025-2026: 

College Name	Ranking Bodies	Rankings (2024-25)
Cornell University	QS World University Rankings,  THE,  U.S. News & World Report Global Ranking	QS: #16 (2026),  THE: #20 (2025),  U.S. News: #19 (2025)
Stony Brook University	U.S. News & World Report (National Ranking)	#58
University at Buffalo	U.S. News & World Report (National Ranking)	#76
Binghamton University	U.S. News & World Report (National Ranking)	#73
University at Albany	U.S. News & World Report (National Ranking)	#121

U.S. News Best Regional University Rankings 2025:

College	Rankings (2025-26)
SUNY Oneonta	#25
SUNY Delhi	#14
SUNY Polytechnic Institute	#33
SUNY Oswego	#37
SUNY Brockport	#55
Stony Brook University	#58

Subject-Wise Ranking of SUNY Universities

SUNY universities are recognized globally for excellence across diverse academic disciplines. 

• The QS Rankings: Highlight strengths in fields like management, engineering, and life sciences, with Cornell University leading in multiple categories. 
• THE Rankings: Emphasize business, clinical health, and interdisciplinary programs, showcasing the practical and research-oriented approach of SUNY institutions. 
• U.S. News Rankings: Validate SUNY's impact in physics, medicine, and economics, underscoring its global reputation and academic rigor. 

These rankings offer a comprehensive perspective on SUNY's subject-specific leadership, helping students align their goals with top-performing programs.

QS Subject Rankings 2025

Subject	College Name	Ranking for the Year 2025
Management	Cornell University	#34
Engineering	Cornell University	#30
Physics and Astronomy	Stony Brook University	#122
Media	Stony Brook University	#2
Computer Science	Cornell University	#18
Life Sciences and Medicine	Cornell University	#16
Psychology	Cornell University	#49

THE Subject Rankings 2025

Subject	College Name	Ranking for the Year 2025
Business and Economics	Cornell University	#18
Public Affairs	University at Albany	#26

U.S. News Subject Rankings 2025-26

Subject	College Name	Ranking for the Year 2025-26
Physics	Cornell University	#19
Economics and Business	Cornell University	#27
Clinical Medicine	Cornell University	#16
Biology	Cornell University	#8
Chemistry	Cornell University	#11
Computer Science	Cornell University	#6
Mathematics	Cornell University	#14
Nursing	Stony Brook University	#74
Economics	Stony Brook University	#92
Nursing	University at Buffalo	#76

SUNY Campuses: Excellence and Achievements

SUNY campuses are celebrated for their outstanding academic excellence, vibrant community support, and cultural innovation. They offer a holistic college experience that extends beyond traditional rankings. 

Below is a breakdown of their achievements: 

• Academic Excellence
• Community Recognition and
• Cultural Distinctions

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

Category	Recognition	Featured Institution
America’s Top Colleges (Forbes 2024-25)	Recognized for educational and career outcomes.	-Albany, Binghamton -University at Buffalo -ESF -Stony Brook -SUNY Poly
Best Value Colleges (Public, 2025)	Binghamton ranked  (#15), Stony Brook (#25) for affordability and high ROI.	-Binghamton -Stony Brook
Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs (2025)	Ranked (#1) for innovative and accessible online education.	University at Buffalo

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

Category	Recognition	Featured Institution
Military Friendly Schools (2024-25)	Top-ranked for military student support and resources.	SUNY Delhi, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Canton
Top Pet-Friendly Colleges (2024)	Ranked (#10)for pet-friendly housing and facilities.	SUNY Canton
Best College Towns in the U.S. (2024)	Syracuse is recognized for its vibrant student life and culture.	SUNY ESF

Cultural and Creative Excellence

Category	Recognition	Featured Institution
Best Fashion Schools (Vogue 2024)	Ranked (#1) for innovative design and marketing programs.	Fashion Institute of Technology
Best College Theater (2022)	Recognized for excellence in performing arts.	Purchase College
Top 20 Career Placement (Public, 2025)	Ranked (#20) for strong career placement and employer connections.	Binghamton University

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

Miscellaneous rankings focus on non-academic aspects of colleges and universities that contribute significantly to the overall student experience and institutional reputation. 

These rankings evaluate factors beyond traditional academic metrics, highlighting areas such as sustainability, diversity, community engagement, and campus culture.

Below is a table showcasing the achievements of SUNY colleges in the miscellaneous rankings:

College Name	Key Achievements	Rank/Recognition
Stony Brook University	- Best Public University in New York - National Universities in Social Mobility - Best Value College (Public)	- #1 in New York - #15 in National Universities for Social Mobility - #25 Best Value (Public)
University at Albany	- Social Mobility Excellence - Ethnically Diverse Campus	- #26 in National Universities for Social Mobility - Recognized for Diversity
Binghamton University	- Best Value College (Public)	- #15 Best Value (Public)
SUNY Canton	- Pet-Friendly Campus	- #10 in Top Pet-Friendly Colleges
SUNY Brockport	- Best Colleges for Community Engagement	- Recognized
SUNY Oswego	- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Campus (Top Green Colleges)	- Recognized

Unique USP’s of SUNY Colleges

SUNY colleges stand out for their diverse offerings, academic excellence, and commitment to innovation. From modern research programs to vibrant campus communities, each college brings its unique strengths. 

Whether it's Cornell University's Ivy League distinction, Stony Brook's STEM expertise, or SUNY Oneonta's collaboration with FIT, these institutions provide exceptional opportunities tailored to varied student aspirations. 

Following is the comprehensive breakdown that provides insights into the distinctive strengths of each SUNY college, helping students identify the institution that aligns best with their goals and aspirations.

Cornell University

USP	Description
Ivy League Prestige	The only Ivy League school in the SUNY system, blending private and public funding.
Interdisciplinary Programs	Offers cutting-edge programs in engineering, business, and agriculture.
Global Recognition	Consistently ranked among the top 20 universities worldwide.

Stony Brook University

USP	Description
Research Excellence	Collaborates with Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
STEM Leadership	Renowned for healthcare, engineering, and environmental sciences.
Affordability	Recognized for affordability and return on investment as a top public university.

University at Buffalo

USP	Description
Comprehensive Programs	Offers diverse programs in medicine, law, and engineering.
Online Education Leader	Ranked #1 for Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs by U.S. News.
Cultural Diversity	Recognized for an inclusive and diverse campus environment.

University at Albany

USP	Description
Public Affairs Expertise	Offers leading programs in public health, criminal justice, and sociology.
Ethnic Diversity	Celebrated for its inclusive and diverse student community.
Research Collaboration	Collaborates with state and federal agencies for impactful research.

Binghamton University

USP	Description
Public Ivy	Provides Ivy League-quality education at public university costs.
Career Placement	Ranked #20 for Best Career Placement among public universities.
Value for Money	Ranked #15 for Best Value Colleges (Public) by Princeton Review.

SUNY Delhi

USP	Description
Career-Focused Programs	Renowned for nursing, veterinary sciences, and culinary arts programs.
Practical Learning	Emphasizes hands-on training and internships in all major programs.
Regional Recognition	Consistently ranked among top regional colleges in the North.

SUNY Oneonta

USP	Description
Fashion Collaboration	Offers a unique pathway to a bachelor’s degree through its partnership with FIT New York.
Liberal Arts Foundation	Provides strong programs in sciences, education, and business.
Alumni Network	Recognized for active alumni engagement and career support.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

USP	Description
Technological Leadership	Renowned for its nanotechnology, engineering, and computer science programs.
Industry Collaboration	Strong ties with industry leaders for internships and job placements.
Innovative Research	Home to cutting-edge research facilities in technology and science.

SUNY Brockport

USP	Description
Education Excellence	Renowned for strong teacher education and health sciences programs.
Vibrant Campus Life	Offers a wide array of extracurricular and athletic opportunities.
Community Engagement	Actively involved in local and regional community initiatives.

SUNY Oswego

USP	Description
Scenic Campus	Located on Lake Ontario, providing a picturesque learning environment.
Specialized Programs	Offers renowned programs in broadcasting, business, and meteorology.
Sustainability Initiatives	Recognized for commitment to green campus and sustainability efforts.

If you’re inspired by the unique strengths of SUNY colleges and want to take the next step, our SUNY Admission Page provides detailed guidance on applications, eligibility, and what makes each institution a great choice. 

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

University rankings are determined using a range of focus areas and indicators, each designed to highlight different facets of institutional excellence. These metrics shed light on academic quality, research influence, global engagement, and the diversity of educational experiences. 

Rankings not only reflect an institution's strengths but also provide valuable insights for students, researchers, and professionals evaluating the best universities worldwide.

Following is an overview of how major-ranking organizations assess universities:

QS World University Rankings

The QS methodology evaluates universities using six indicators across four areas: academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, and internationalization.

Metric	Overall Score (%)
Academic Reputation	40%
Employer Reputation	10%
Student-to-Faculty Ratio	20%
Research Citations per Faculty	20%
Proportion of International Faculty	5%
Proportion of International Students	5%

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

THE assesses universities across five main areas, combining metrics for teaching, research, international outlook, and industry engagement.

Metric	Overall Score (%)
Teaching	30%
Research	30%
Research Citations	30%
International Outlook	7.5%
Industry Income	2.5%

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

The U.S. News methodology focuses on research performance and reputation using 13 indicators to evaluate global universities.

Metric	Overall Score(%)
Global Research Reputation	12.5%
Regional Research Reputation	12.5%
Publications	10%
Books and Conference Papers	2.5%
Normalized Citation Impact	10%
Total Citations	10%
Highly Cited Papers (Number and Percentage)	5%
International Collaboration (Relative to Country)	5%
International Collaboration (Overall)	5%
Number of International Publications	2.5%
Percentage of International Publications	2.5%

Why Should You Choose SUNY?

SUNY, in partnership with upGrad, provides a practical and efficient pathway for students aiming to attend premier U.S. colleges. This program allows students to begin their academic journey in India, combining high-quality education with significant financial savings.

By leveraging this unique opportunity, students can seamlessly transition to renowned institutions like Cornell, gaining access to top-tier education while building a strong foundation for their future. 

Below are the key benefits of choosing this pathway:

Academic Pathway to Premium Colleges

The State University of New York Bachelor's Year 1 Program allows students to transfer to top-tier colleges in their second year by maintaining a strong GPA during the first year. 

Admission requirements are simplified, requiring only a Duolingo score of 120, making the process more accessible and convenient for international students. 

Interested in learning how the SUNY Bachelor’s Year 1 Program can work for you? Book a 1:1 session now!

Significant Cost Savings

Students can save up to INR 50 lakh (approx.) on tuition fees by completing their first year in India. Additionally, savings on living expenses and other costs further reduce the financial burden, ensuring a smooth academic transition to the United States.

Earn Credits from India

With the opportunity to complete 30 out of 120 credits in India, students align themselves with SUNY’s academic standards without facing the intense challenges of direct admission. 

This practical alternative bypasses hurdles like low acceptance rates, high academic standards, and demanding application processes, offering a smoother pathway to prestigious universities like Cornell.

Convenience and Flexibility

Students begin their international education journey while staying close to home during the first year. This approach builds a strong foundation, enabling a seamless and confident transition to a SUNY campus in the U.S.

Additionally, SUNY, in partnership with upGrad, bridges the gap between quality education and affordability, empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals with ease.

Personalized Academic Counseling

upGrad provides end-to-end guidance with academic planning, transfer requirements, and visa assistance. Counselors create a clear roadmap tailored to each student’s aspirations, ensuring a successful transition to SUNY.

Feeling overwhelmed or unsure about applying to SUNY University? Let our expert counselors guide you every step of the way. Schedule your free counseling session now and get personalized assistance!

Curious to learn more about SUNY? Read all the details and discover everything you need to know on our dedicated SUNY overview page!