Top Rated New York Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in New York for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in New York as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the best public college in New York is University at Buffalo. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


33 results

University at Buffalo
U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 31,889enrollment
  • $20,511net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

SUNY at Binghamton
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 25,865enrollment
  • $18,601net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

SUNY at Geneseo
G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,928enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

SUNY at Albany
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

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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

CUNY Brooklyn College
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

CUNY City College
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

CUNY Hunter College
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

State University of New York at New Paltz
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

SUNY at Purchase College
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

SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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

CUNY Queens College
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

SUNY College at Oneonta
O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,514enrollment
  • $17,918net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

SUNY College at Cortland
C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

SUNY Maritime College
S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,350enrollment
  • $20,398net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1091-1285SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

SUNY at Fredonia
F
Fredonia, NY

SUNY at Fredonia

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,220enrollment
  • $15,830net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA