The Best New York Colleges

The Best Colleges in New York for 2025

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in New York as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2025 as the best overall college in New York is Cornell University. The top rated public state college is University at Buffalo. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
New York Public Private 4 year

94 results

Molloy College
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M
Rockville Centre, NY
 

Molloy College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,970enrollment
  • $25,938net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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SUNY at Albany
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A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,880enrollment
  • $19,165net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Le Moyne College
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L
Syracuse, NY

Le Moyne College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,154enrollment
  • $22,139net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $19,644net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY Brooklyn College
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B
Brooklyn, NY

CUNY Brooklyn College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,935enrollment
  • $4,105net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1420SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY City College
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C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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State University of New York at New Paltz
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S
New Paltz, NY

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 7,420enrollment
  • $17,848net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Alfred University
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A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $26,127net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY at Purchase College
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P
Purchase, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,229enrollment
  • $18,651net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1178-1363SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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S
Utica, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $14,646net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Saint Joseph's College New York
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S
Brooklyn, NY
 

Saint Joseph's College New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,050enrollment
  • $18,324net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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Siena College
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S
Loudonville, NY

Siena College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,623enrollment
  • $32,602net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1360SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Roberts Wesleyan College
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R
Rochester, NY
 

Roberts Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,619enrollment
  • $24,202net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 965-1250SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

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CUNY Queens College
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Q
Flushing, NY

CUNY Queens College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,481enrollment
  • $5,339net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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Wagner College
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W
Staten Island, NY

Wagner College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,932enrollment
  • $28,109net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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St John's University New York
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S
Queens, NY

St John's University New York

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 19,691enrollment
  • $28,206net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Canisius College
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C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,545enrollment
  • $19,321net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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