Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in New York provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
The state of New York is very large and diverse, which is why it is one of the most exciting places to study and live. Each year, thousands of students from neighboring states and across the world move to New York to enjoy the state’s quality of life and, of course, enjoy the advantages of obtaining a first-rate college education.
New York is home to different schools—from the top-rated private schools like New York University, Columbia University, Fordham, Syracuse, Cornell, and Barnard College, down to the best public colleges like Binghamton University, Stony Brook University, the University of Buffalo, the United States Military Academy, to name few.
With the hundreds of colleges and universities in New York, it’s safe to say that this state is indeed one of the best places to study.
Broadway, Wall Street, the Central Park—these are just some of the biggest names in New York that make the state famous worldwide. But there is so much more to New York than just the Big Apple.
Tourists are drawn to the beautiful beaches of Long Island and the forests and lakes of upstate New York. In 2019, the state recorded a staggering 265.5 million tourists, making it one of the most favorite destinations worldwide.
Like tourists, college students also flock to New York, not for pleasure but for the top-rated institutions in the state. So why is New York a good place to study?
In a 2020 US Census, New York ranked eighth among all states with the greatest ethnic and racial diversity, and much of this is found in this most populated city.
New York City is home to people from 180 countries and over 800 languages. When you wander through the boroughs, meeting people from different places and learning about their beliefs, culture, and customs is common.
Employment and Internship Opportunities: More than 50 Fortune 500 companies are based in New York. These companies represent roughly 2/3 of the US economy.
Because of Wall Street, New York is dubbed as the world’s financial capital, not to mention the home of some of the biggest names in fashion, publishing, retail, advertising, and high-tech industries.
This global business and commerce hub offers students many opportunities, including internships and employment after graduation.
Building your networking skills in college can significantly increase career opportunities and develop relationships in the professional and academic world. When you meet the right network of people, the results can bring about life-changing opportunities.
What’s great about studying in New York is that networking opportunities always abound. Networking events happen in every industry, including public administration, human services, and finance.
Networking with fellow students and other professionals can lead to meaningful opportunities and connections nationally and globally.
Entertainment opportunities abound in New York City. You can enjoy concerts or Broadway shows in amazing venues like the Central Park SummerStage, Carnegie Hall, or Madison Square Garden.
You can join art or jazz festivals, contribute to WorldPride events in Long Island, and participate in concerts in the Catskill Mountains. The amount of entertainment in New York is incomparable—perfect to while away your time while a student in this incomparable state.
New York is also home to globally recognized sports teams. Students have the chance to see the Yankees and the Mets, two of the most prominent names in major league baseball. The Nets in Brooklyn or the Knicks in Manhattan might be around the corner for basketball fans. Students receive discounted tickets for different sporting events with all these amazing options.
On average, tuition at New York’s higher education institutes comes in well-below the national average at about $7,900. Students have nearly 80 public school options to choose from, ranging in fees from $1,000 at the United States Merchant Marine Academy up to $10,000 at the University at Buffalo, the largest public university. However, some of the state’s private schools, such as New York University (NYU), charge tuition fees at a much higher cost.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
Although tuition fees at NYU average $52,000, students who attend this school have access to some of the best programs in fields like literature, business, medicine, communications, and law. The school also boasts famous alumni like Whoopi Goldberg and Jonas Salk. New York also offers close to 40 religiously affiliated schools. Students can expect to pay a wide range of tuition costs at these schools, but have the option to major in fields like social work, law, religious studies, business, and nursing.
They say New York is a place where dreams come true. Here, fashion, culture, food, business, art, and many languages comfortably coexist. While The Empire State’s metropolitan landmarks, like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, are noteworthy, many forget New York also offers access to the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and countless cozy cabins tucked away in the verdant Catskills Mountains. Additionally, New York is home to over 200 colleges and universities, making it easy for students to dream big while earning their degrees.
Explore some of the top programs New York higher education institutes have to offer, and make your educational and personal dreams come true.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 41 public universities in New York. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in New York, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
78%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1335/29
Stony Brook University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
57%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/27
City College of New York’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
74%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/26
University at Buffalo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
51%
Graduation
56%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/25
Brooklyn College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
84%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1325/30
United States Military Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
44%
Graduation
84%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/30
Binghamton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
58%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/28
Hunter College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
66%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/25
University at Albany, SUNY’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
51%
Graduation
74%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1265/28
Baruch College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
55%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/24
Queens College, City University of New York’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
82%
Student body
8K
Fashion Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
45%
Graduation
54%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/23
John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
63%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1190/27
State University of New York at Purchase’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
53%
Student body
12K
Lehman College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$1K
Acceptance
25%
Graduation
81%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1290/27
United States Merchant Marine Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
73%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1165/26
State University of New York at New Paltz’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
66%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/23
State University of New York at Oswego’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
34%
Student body
11K
College of Staten Island’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
76%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1215/27
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
74%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/22
State University of New York at Oneonta’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
41%
Student body
7K
Buffalo State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
54%
Student body
3K
Alfred State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
76%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/26
State University of New York at Geneseo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
53%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/21
Farmingdale State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
65%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
State University of New York at Plattsburgh’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.