Best New York Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in New York for 2025

There are 252 colleges and universities in New York enrolling 1,119,860 students. Explore the list of top colleges in New York below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in New York offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 New York is home to nationally ranked institutions like Cornell University, Columbia University in the City of New York, Hamilton College and Colgate University. The highest ranked college in New York is Cornell University and the top rated public state college is University at Buffalo.

Local college options can be explored in New York, Buffalo, Rochester and Yonkers or other cities.

New York Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

252 results

List of the Best New York Colleges

Cornell University
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C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in New York

  • 26,264enrollment
  • $26,455net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Columbia University in the City of New York
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C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New York

  • 35,279enrollment
  • $20,869net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Hamilton College
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H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in New York

  • 2,048enrollment
  • $26,021net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Colgate University
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C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in New York

  • 3,146enrollment
  • $26,954net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1530SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Barnard College
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B
New York, NY

Barnard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in New York

  • 3,353enrollment
  • $27,738net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1453-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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New York University
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N
New York, NY

New York University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in New York

  • 57,335enrollment
  • $30,730net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Vassar College
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V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in New York

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $29,733net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Skidmore College
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S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in New York

  • 2,776enrollment
  • $32,368net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Rochester
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R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in New York

  • 12,160enrollment
  • $40,900net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Yeshiva University
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Y
New York, NY

Yeshiva University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in New York

  • 6,826enrollment
  • $38,118net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Union College
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U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in New York

  • 2,082enrollment
  • $42,884net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University at Buffalo
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U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in New York

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

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SUNY at Binghamton
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B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in New York

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in New York

  • 7,024enrollment
  • $35,940net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Fordham University
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F
Bronx, NY

Fordham University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in New York

  • 16,153enrollment
  • $45,368net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Sarah Lawrence College
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S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in New York

  • 1,743enrollment
  • $43,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Hobart William Smith Colleges
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H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in New York

  • 1,669enrollment
  • $33,172net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Stony Brook University
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S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in New York

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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