Best Colleges in New York
New York, the Empire State, with the motto “Ever Upward,” is a Northeastern state that’s home to the Statue of Liberty, the US symbol of freedom, democracy, and opportunity. New York City, The Big Apple, has, likewise, become known as a place of entrepreneurship, social tolerance, cinemas, and Broadway, and claims more than 40% of the state’s population. There are more than 200 colleges in New York, dozens of which are a part of either the State University of New York (SUNY) or the City University of New York (CUNY) systems. The oldest institution in the state is Columbia University, which was originally chartered as King’s College, and it’s also the most selective. New York has two federal service academies, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Judaism institutions. Financial services claims the top industry spot in NY, but its closely followed by health care, professional and technical services, and retail trade. Standard attractions for New York include the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and the Empire State Building, as well as Watkins Glen State Park, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and the Enchanted Mountain region.
How Were the Top Schools in New York Chosen?
Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.
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Yeshiva University is a private, Jewish institution established in New York City. The college consists of four campuses throughout Manhattan and the Bronx, with an additional campus located in Israel. All of YU’s campuses are home to facilities...
With Judaic studies in the morning and secular courses in the afternoon, your day is filled with inspiring and useful information.
” – Adam from Brooklyn, NY
Originally founded as a school for math and science teachers, Stony Brook University is a 4-year public university on Long Island and part of the State University of New York system. Stony Brook is home to 12 schools and colleges conferring degrees...
Stony Brook offers a great, quality education for a state school price, however, getting a quality education depends primarily on the student. Many of the science and math based classes are quite large and are often held in huge lecture halls. Due...
” – Amamah from Huntington, NY
With a campus overlooking Seneca Lake, Hobart & William Smith Colleges are liberal arts colleges in the Finger Lakes region of New York State that operate in a coordinate college system. Originally founded as separate colleges for women and men...
I am currently taking a wide variety of classes, being a current first year. HWS has 8 required goals that must be completed for graduation. These goals help to broaden your horizon, while meeting your Major/Minor requirements. This school has...
” – Abigail M. W.
Located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, CUNY Hunter College is a public college and the largest school in the City University of New York System. Hunter is home to six colleges and schools conferring degrees in over 170 fields of study. In addition...
The professors here at Hunter are very knowledgeable and are also very diverse. Most of the professors that I have had so far are very fair and are also very helpful. Just make sure you read your syllabus before hand so that you are never behind...
” – Oluwadara from Brentwood, NY
Ithaca College is a private, liberal arts college located midway between Manhattan and Toronto. IC offers more than 100 programs across five schools, including an Exploratory Program, which allows freshmen to take up to four semesters to try out...
Ithaca College offers many opportunities to pursue any subject that you may desire to study. You can be a communication major and still have the chance to take art history or any other class that may catch your eye. As a cinema major, I have taken...
” – Courtney from Yorktown Heights, NY
Discover a new kind of university in New York City, one where scholars, artists, and designers come together to challenge convention and create positive change. Our university takes full advantage of its location in one of the most vibrant and...
I am currently a student at the Parsons division of The New School, and my major is Fashion Design. The thing that sets me apart from my section (during the first semester you will be a part of a section that you have almost all of your classes with...
” – Briana from Corpus Christi, TX
Founded in 1896, Clarkson University is a 4-year private school in northern New York State. Clarkson confers undergraduate degrees in over 60 academic fields of study. Additionally, the university hosts the SPEED program providing the opportunity to...
This college is very demanding when it comes to some subjects and very laid back when it comes to others. The big 3 courses, physics, chemistry, and calculus, serve as a filter for the students. If you can't keep up and learn the material, you...
” – Dylan from Fort Edward, NY
Affiliated with the Jewish Theological Seminary, List College is a Conservative Jewish college in New York City. All List College students enroll in a Jewish Studies curriculum and choose from eleven Jewish theological majors such as Talmud &...
List College of The Jewish Theological Seminary is a dynamic, Jewish learning environment. With its dual-degree program with Columbia University's School of General Studies or its Double Degree Program with Barnard College, List College provides a...
” – Nicole from Golden Beach, FL
Originally founded as a school for women, Sarah Lawrence College is a coed liberal arts college in the New York City metro area. Sarah Lawrence is home to over 50 academic disciplines and all students design their own courses of study. Within each...
Sarah Lawrence is all about learning. It is sort of the Juliard for writers. You get in based on your writing, and you do well acedemically because of it. There are very few tests, since most of the curriculum is based on essays. It is unlike any...
” – Elizabeth from Cincinnati, OH
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a 4-year private university of technology, arts, and design in northwest New York State. RIT is home to 11 colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees. Additionally, RIT offers a co-op program that...
Part of being a Software Engineering major means spending a year with Computer Science students learning the basics of computer programming. When I first came to RIT, I knew nothing about writing code but the classes challenged and taught me well and...
” – Geoff from Avon, NY
Originally founded as the Cortland Normal School, SUNY Cortland is a 4-year public university in central New York State and part of the State University of New York system. SUNY Cortland offers bachelor’s degrees in 65 academic majors and 38 minors...
I wanted to attend a school that has a strong education program. I did my research, applied to SUNY Cortland and was accepted. This is my first semester and I thoroughly enjoy being at SUNY Cortland with the Red Dragons.
” – Zhane from Springfield Gardens, NY
Baruch College is a member of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, the nation’s largest urban public university with over 24 campuses. Located in New York City, the college offers 30 undergraduate degrees along with 60 minors for its...
As a Baruch student, I have been learning non-stop since I first started attending last Fall. Baruch Professors set the class environment and give you the push you need to challenge yourself.
” – Prinita from Queens Village, NY
St. John Fisher College is an independent instution located in Pittsford, NY, that run on the Catholic tradition. St. John's 164-acres of campus house five colleges, has both a Math and Writing Center, and is within 7 miles of Rochester. The "College...
As an upcoming senior, I've realized just how much I've learned in the past few years. Knowledge goes beyond the classroom though and I was able to attend Macquarie University in Australia during my junior year. All my financial aid transferred which...
” – Josue from Rochester, NY
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a service academy based in the suburban town of Kings Point, New York. All students enter the school as “plebe candidates” and must complete an intense regimen of physical training, customs, drills, and...
Is a very rigorous school that will prepare students for their role in the military or maritime service. There is no other school like this, with regards to traditions and experiences. Even though your time here will be rough and studious it is...
” – Neil from Kings Point, NY
The State University of New York at New Paltz is 4-year public liberal arts institution in the Hudson Valley region of New York State and the area’s only residential public university. SUNY New Paltz is home to seven degree-granting colleges and...
This is my first semester at New Paltz and I do feel like I am learning a lot. It's a liberal arts college, so there is a great variety of choices of classes to suit you. My professors are all very intelligent and have great styles of teaching, so it...
” – Brianna from Wappingers Falls, NY
The University at Buffalo is a 4-year research institution offering more than 140 undergraduate degree programs. UB is the largest university in the State University of New York system by enrollment, but maintains a student-faculty ratio of 14:1...
This school has great programs for several different disciplines: Pharmacy, Architecture, Dentistry, Law, Nursing, Anthropology, etc. Spend some time really considering which one you would most like to pursue and then really immerse yourself in it.
” – Matthew from Stockbridge, GA
The New York School of Interior Design is a private institution offering concentrations in interior design. The school offers certifications, associate, bachelor, and master programs, including fine arts degrees. NYSID offers joint programs working...
The City College of New York is a public senior college in upper Manhattan and the oldest institution of higher learning in the City University of New York system. CCNY is home to 10 academic divisions and schools conferring undergraduate degrees as...
There will always be hard to understand professors wherever you go, but there are lots of places at the college that offer help, and in my experience, many fellow students are willing to group together to ace a class.
” – Denise from New York, NY
Bard College is a liberal arts institution with a main location surrounded by the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. The 1,000-acre Annandale campus provides 48 undergraduate programs and concentrations in five divisions, as well as a number of 3+2...
Bard College is not only a beautiful college, but is also on a beautiful mission to help college student learn and cultivate their ambitions and talents. Bard College has just the right balance of peace on campus to study and adventure in the city...
” – Briana from Alpharetta, GA
Founded by The Society of Jesus, Le Moyne College is a Jesuit institution in Syracuse, NY. The first co-ed Jesuit college in the United States, Le Moyne offers degrees in over 100 majors, minors and special programs. For students interested in the...
At Le Moyne since it is a small school all the teachers know you on a personal level, and are very understanding. Teachers make sure that you are understanding the lessons and if you need extra help most of the time they are available for help during...
” – Kristin from Putnam Valley, NY