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

Cornell University
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C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 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

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 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

#25 Best Colleges in America

  • 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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 Private 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

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 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

#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

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Private 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

#13 Best Private 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

#14 Best Private 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

#15 Best Private 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

#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

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