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Ranked List of the Best SUNY Schools
What’s Covered:
- SUNY Schools Ranking
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at SUNY Schools?
- How to Apply to the SUNY Schools
Established in 1948, the State University of New York (SUNY) is the largest system of higher education campuses, schools, and colleges in the U.S. Today, this collection of diverse units, spanning every level of higher education from community colleges to doctoral programs, includes 64 distinct schools.
From Buffalo to Long Island, SUNY has a presence across the entire State of New York. Considering attending a SUNY school? Read on to learn which one is right for you.
Note: this post focuses on colleges with in-person, four-year-degree programs.
SUNY Schools Ranking
CollegeVine’s rankings are focused on school quality, outcomes, and ROI (return on investment). When creating our rankings, we examined factors such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others.
1. University at Buffalo
Location: Buffalo
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1190-1380/25-32
Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,400
A top public university in New York State, UB is New York’s largest public university—boasting over 30,000 total students and covering more than 1,300 acres over its three distinct campuses. UB offers the widest range of academic programs of any public institution in its region, with more than 140 undergraduate programs and the option of designing your own major.
Founded in 1846 as a medical college, the university merged with SUNY in 1962. Today, it is one of four university centers that are part of the system and has achieved a global reach. It’s one of the top universities in the U.S. for hosting international students, offers over 1,000 study-abroad options across seven continents, and alumni are found in 150 countries.
Learn more about University at Buffalo and see your chances of acceptance.
2. Stony Brook
Location: Stony Brook
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1320-1480/28-34
Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,900
Long regarded as the flagship school of the SUNY system, Stony Brook was established in 1957 as a preparatory school for math and science teachers. Today, the university is one of SUNY’s four university centers and is known for programs in areas like engineering, business, and more. In fact, the university offers more than 200 majors, minors, and combined-degree programs in total.
Stony Brook gives its students an excellent return on their investment in the university; the website Payscale ranks it 134th for in-state students and 204th (out of 1,978 schools) for out-of-state students on its list of best-value colleges.
Learn more about Stony Brook and see your chances of acceptance.
3. Binghamton University
Location: Vestal
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1290-1450/29-32
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,000
Binghamton has long been considered a top-value school and one of the country’s top public universities. Payscale ranks it 71st for in-state students and 107th for out-of-state students on its list of best-value colleges.
Binghamton is home to six schools and more than 130 academic programs. It has a reputation for its variety of accelerated degree programs, in everything from the arts to engineering, which allow students to graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years.
The university also is known for its broad range of study-abroad programs, strong retention rate, and a plethora of extracurricular activities.
Learn more about Binghamton and see your chances of acceptance.
4. SUNY Oneonta
Location: Oneonta
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 978-1169/19-27
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,300
Between liberal arts, business, education, human ecology, sports studies, and sciences, SUNY Oneonta offers an array of majors and programs. In particular, the university emphasizes career preparation.
By senior year, almost three-quarters of Oneonta students have participated in at least two “high impact” learning experiences, such as participating in research with a faculty member, an internship, or a study-abroad program.
One of SUNY Oneonta’s most-notable traditions is passing through the pillars. New students pass through a pair of red brick pillars—the only remaining pieces of Old Main, the first building on the SUNY Oneonta campus—before their first class to signify their start at the university. The day before commencement, graduating seniors pass back through the pillars, marking the end of their undergraduate experience at the university.
Learn more about Oneonta and see your chances of acceptance.
5. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Location: Syracuse
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,600
The oldest institution focused on the study of the environment in the country, SUNY-ESF is a specialized school offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in environmentally related disciplines. Sierra Magazine ranks SUNY-ESF fifth on its list of North America’s most environmentally friendly schools.
SUNY-ESF has a longstanding partnership with Syracuse University. Students at SUNY-ESF can take courses at Syracuse University, join its clubs, and use its facilities, libraries, computer labs, and dining halls.
SUNY-ESF students can’t participate in Syracuse’s Division I athletics (they can enjoy them as spectators, however), but the school fields a variety of its own teams ranging from traditional sports like basketball and soccer to more niche pursuits like bass fishing and timber sports.
Learn more about SUNY-ESF and see your chances of acceptance.
6. University at Albany
Location: Albany
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1120-1320/22-31
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,600
Nine colleges and schools, along with an honors college, comprise UAlbany, a university with a history dating back more than 175 years. A top-ranked institution for research, it offers programs across three campuses: the Uptown Campus in Albany and Guilderland, the Downtown Campus in Albany, and the Health Sciences Campus in the city of Rensselaer.
UAlbany has been home to a couple of interesting world records. In 1985, in response to being named “the most apathetic” school in the country, UAlbany organized the world’s largest game of musical chairs—5,060 people participated and the game took 4 hours and 35 minutes to complete. The following year, UAlbany broke the record for the world’s largest game of Twister, with 4,064 participants.
Learn more about UAlbany and see your chances of acceptance.
7. SUNY New Paltz
Location: New Paltz
Acceptance Rate: 46%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1180-1330/25-29
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,200
All types of students are attracted to SUNY New Paltz, thanks, in part, to New Paltz’s funky college-town vibe, an abundance of accessible outdoor activities, and proximity to New York City. That said, SUNY New Paltz is of particular interest to LGBTQ students—Lending Tree ranks the university 29th on its list of the most affordable LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in the U.S., while the school receives 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index.
SUNY New Paltz makes regular appearances on Sierra Magazine’s Cool Schools rankings, which recognize the nation’s most environmentally friendly colleges and universities. Green initiatives are found across campus and include events like RecycleMania, in which residence halls compete to see who can recycle the most paper, glass, metal, and plastic per person.
Learn more about SUNY New Paltz and see your chances of acceptance.
8. SUNY Cortland
Location: Cortland
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1110-1220/21.5-27
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,900
A founding member of the SUNY system, Cortland was originally established as Cortland Normal School in 1868. The school offers 68 majors across the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Professional Studies, excelling, in particular, in teacher education and health-related programs.
SUNY Cortland acquired its unique nickname, the “Red Dragons,” in 1933 when a team manager inspired by Mobil’s old flying red-horse logo suggested the name. It stuck, and now almost a century later its spirit has permeated across campus. Red Dragons are strong, high-energy, active, motivated, curious, hardworking, ambitious, passionate, sincere, kind, welcoming, helpful, friendly, outgoing, social, and optimistic.
Learn more about SUNY Cortland and see your chances of acceptance.
9. SUNY Geneseo
Location: Geneseo
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1170-1310/25-30.5
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,400
Founded in 1871, Geneseo is a liberal arts college known for the beauty of its campus—it displays the classic northeastern college aesthetic with brick walkways, shade trees, and ivy-draped buildings.
Geneseo offers 50 undergraduate degree programs and graduate programs in accounting and education. According to the college, nearly half of its graduates have a double major and/or a major and a minor.
Geneseo is one of only 286 four-year colleges in the U.S. to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the country’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Geneseo students are also busy outside of the classroom; more than half of graduates complete an internship, and almost 70% of faculty report working with undergraduates on research.
Learn more about SUNY Geneseo and see your chances of acceptance.
10. SUNY Purchase
Location: Purchase
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1190-1350/28.5-31
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,400
Considered a top-value college, Purchase combines liberal arts and sciences with conservatory programs in visual and performing arts. Collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability are core values of the institution, and Purchase seeks to foster diversity through its programs.
Hispanic/Latinx students make up more than a quarter of the university’s undergraduate population and the school is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). More than 15% of incoming freshmen are first-generation college students.
The cornerstone of a Purchase undergraduate education is a senior project—a reflection of a student’s growth, knowledge, and technical skills they’ve developed. Past projects have included research papers, dance and music recitals, films, art exhibitions, theater productions, books, and creative writing.
Learn more about SUNY Purchase and see your chances of acceptance.
11. SUNY Oswego
Location: Oswego
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,100
SUNY Oswego has been educating students for more than a century and a half—the school was founded in 1861. The university offers more than 70 majors through its four schools: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Communications, Media, and the Arts.
The university’s Oswego Guarantee aims to help undergraduates earn their bachelor’s degree in four years. The college guarantees it won’t raise the cost of a student’s room or meal plans for four consecutive academic years. It also guarantees the availability of the classes a student needs to graduate in four years—if it can’t fulfill its obligation, it will provide the remaining courses tuition free. Lastly, it gives students who graduate on time $300 as a way of saying “good job.”
Learn more about SUNY Oswego and see your chances of acceptance.
12. SUNY Plattsburgh
Location: Plattsburgh
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,300
SUNY Plattsburgh has been serving students since 1889 when it was founded as a teaching college. The university offers 69 majors ranging from accounting to theater and provides numerous hands-on learning opportunities—including its television and radio stations, its 8,600-acre “lab” of farmland, and positions in local area classrooms and businesses.
Another appealing aspect of SUNY Plattsburgh is its location—it’s within an hour of Lake Placid, Burlington, and Montreal.
Learn more about SUNY Plattsburgh and see your chances of acceptance.
13. Farmingdale State College
Location: Farmingdale
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1000-1175/19-24
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,200
With 40 bachelor’s degrees, five associate’s degrees, and one master’s degree, Farmingdale State has an array of offerings across its four schools. The school was founded in 1912 as an agricultural institute but has developed a reputation for its technology programs.
In recent years, Farmingdale State has introduced a variety of new programs in emerging high-tech fields, including computer science, business analytics, and computer security technology. Another new program of interest is cannabis production and management.
More than 80% of Farmingdale students come from Long Island, the majority of which are from Nassau and Suffolk counties, and almost half of the school’s student body are minorities.
Learn more about Farmingdale and see your chances of acceptance.
14. SUNY Maritime
Location: Throggs Neck
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1090-1260/24–28
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,400
SUNY Maritime was the first school of its kind, established in 1874, and remains just one of seven degree-granting maritime academies in the U.S. Through the school, undergraduates may pursue one of 10 bachelor’s degrees or an associate’s degree.
The college has been coeducational since 1972, but men still significantly outnumber women on campus—making up more than 85% of the student body.
Students can choose from two distinct pathways: the Regiment of Cadets and the civilian program. The Regiment of Cadets isn’t affiliated with the military and carries no service obligation, however, cadets wear uniforms and follow a disciplined lifestyle. The civilian program offers a more traditional college experience.
Learn more about SUNY Maritime and see your chances of acceptance.
15. SUNY Brockport
Location: Brockport
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1060-1220/23-28
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,700
SUNY Brockport was founded as Brockport Collegiate Institute in 1841 and was one of few institutions of the era to open its doors to students of all genders and people of color. Today, SUNY Brockport is committed to the values of community, engagement, excellence, and transformation. Underrepresented students make up over a fifth of the university’s student body.
SUNY Brockport offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, ranging from African and African-American studies to water resources.
Learn more about Brockport and see your chances of acceptance.
16. SUNY Potsdam
Location: Potsdam
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,300
The oldest member of SUNY—and one of the nation’s first 50 colleges—Potsdam was founded in 1816 as St. Lawrence Academy. It was also the first institution in the U.S. to offer training for music teachers.
Today, it continues to be a leader in music education through the Crane Normal Institute of Music, one of three schools at the institution, along with the School of Education and Professional Studies and the College of Arts & Sciences.
The Washington Post recently named Potsdam as the seventh “collegiest college town” (towns with the highest percentage of college students calling it home) in America. Attracting students to Potsdam is its location—it’s sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and 1,000 lakes and is within driving distance of Lake Placid, Burlington, Montreal, and Quebec.
Learn more about SUNY Potsdam and see your chances of acceptance.
17. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Location: Utica
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,000
SUNY Polytechnic specializes in cutting-edge STEM programs and innovative majors. Five colleges make up the institute: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Health Sciences, and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
Programs are available across two campuses, with its Utica campus home to the majority of offerings and its Albany campus dedicated to nanoscale science and engineering.
SUNY Poly offers more than 20 majors and class sizes are kept small—the average class contains just 18 students and the student-to-faculty ratio is just 13:1.
Learn more about SUNY Poly and see your chances of acceptance.
18. SUNY Fredonia
Location: Fredonia
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1070-1260/18-23
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,300
SUNY Fredonia is the second-oldest institution in the SUNY system. Fredonia offers more than 80 majors and 50 minors and numerous study-abroad opportunities. The school offers more than 1,000 study-abroad programs in 60+ countries on seven continents, and 15% of Fredonia undergraduates participate.
The arts play a prominent role at Fredonia. Its campus is home to three theaters, three art galleries, and a concert hall. SUNY Fredonia hosts more than 150 art events annually, which draw upwards of 40,000 attendees.
Learn more about Fredonia and see your chances of acceptance.
19. Buffalo State College
Location: Buffalo
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Middle 50% SAT: 943-1168
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,100
Buffalo State first opened its doors in 1871 as a college to train teachers. Today, the school offers 79 undergraduate majors through its three schools—the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of the Professions—along with opportunities including research projects, study-abroad programs, and learning communities.
Outside of the classroom, Buffalo State is home to 18 athletic teams, more than 100 student clubs and organizations, and a radio station—WBNY 91.3 FM—which has been broadcasting for more than four decades.
Learn more about Buffalo State and see your chances of acceptance.
20. SUNY Delhi
Location: Delhi
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 920-1090/17-23
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,500
SUNY Delhi has been providing a high-quality hands-on education in New York’s Catskills for more than a century. The school is notable for its culinary arts program.
One of the most appreciated traditions at SUNY Delhi is the “move-in crew,” where incoming first-year students are greeted by an eager crew of students, faculty, and staff (including the President) who help carry their bags and belongings to their residence hall rooms.
Learn more about SUNY Delhi and see your chances of acceptance.
21. Alfred State College
Location: Alfred
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,400
Formerly known as the Technical College at Alfred, Alfred State College (ASC) now offers both bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs with a liberal arts and career focus. The college boasts a 98% employment or continuing education rate within the first year after graduation.
Located in a true college town, 85% of Alfred’s population is college students. ASC students will find plenty to keep themselves busy outside of the classroom, the school is home to 80+ clubs and fields a variety of Division III athletic teams.
Learn more about Alfred State and see your chances of acceptance.
22. SUNY Canton
Location: Canton
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Middle 50% SAT: 960-1130
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,800
Originally chartered as a two-year college in 1906, SUNY Canton was the first institution of its kind in the state of New York. Today, in addition to associate’s degrees, the university offers bachelor’s degrees and a handful of certificate programs across its School of Business & Liberal Arts, Canino School of Engineering Technology, and School of Science, Health & Criminal Justice. Each program offers a hands-on curriculum geared toward career readiness.
SUNY Canton is located in New York’s “North Country,” a region bordered by Lake Ontario on the west, Lake Champlain on the east, the Adirondack Mountains to the south, and Canada to the north.
SUNY Canton was New York’s first college to join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).
Learn more about SUNY Canton and see your chances of acceptance.
23. SUNY Old Westbury
Location: Old Westbury
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,000
SUNY Old Westbury offers more than 50 degree programs across its four academic schools—Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Professional Studies—ranging from American studies to visual arts. The school was founded in 1965 and moved to its current 604-acre site, approximately 20 miles outside of New York City, in 1971.
SUNY Old Westbury has a diverse student body: 28% of students are Hispanic/Latino, 25% are African American, and 12% are Asian. SUNY Old Westbury primarily caters to commuters, however, roughly 500 students live on campus.
Learn more about Old Westbury and see your chances of acceptance.
24. SUNY Cobleskill
Location: Cobleskill
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 990-1150/17-20
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,800
The State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, or more simply, SUNY Cobleskill, offers bachelor’s programs in unique fields like agricultural business management, applied fermentation, canine training and management, therapeutic horsemanship, and sports turf management.
The university places a focus on experiential learning and provides students with a multitude of hands-on learning opportunities.
SUNY Cobleskill’s 900+ acre campus is home to an equestrian center, a 200-cow dairy facility, the largest cold-water fish hatchery in the Northeast, and a USDA-approved meat laboratory. On campus, students will also find more than 50 student clubs and 22 intercollegiate athletic teams (11 men’s and 11 women’s).
Learn more about Cobleskill and see your chances of acceptance.
25. SUNY Morrisville
Location: Morrisville
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,900
With more than 50 bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs, Morrisville—founded in 1908 as a college of agriculture—continues to embrace its roots in the field, with programs in areas like agricultural business development, environmental & natural resources management, and horticulture business management.
Today, it offers majors in other areas as well, including applied psychology, information technology, and nursing.
SUNY Morrisville is also known for its equine programs; it boasts an indoor arena specifically designated for English riding and training of hunters and jumpers, the nation’s only half-mile harness racing track on a college campus, and the only competing collegiate Belgian hitch in North America.
Learn more about Morrisville and see your chances of acceptance.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at SUNY Schools?
The schools within the SUNY system are variable in terms of selectivity. Of course, your personal statistics—including grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more—also contribute to your chances of admission. To learn the odds of getting into individual SUNY schools, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine. This tool takes into account your personal profile to estimate your likelihood of admission and gives you tips on how to improve your odds of success.
How to Apply to the SUNY Schools
The SUNY system requires a unique application, accessed through your applySUNY account. You can apply to multiple campuses using one application, but determine your campus and curriculum selections before starting. Some schools will require supplements.
For more information, check out SUNY’s application instructions and application worksheet.
