Ben Axelson | baxelson@nyup.com

by Ben Axelson | baxelson@nyup.com

Every year, Business First ranks the top public colleges and universities in the United States, based on criteria such as selectivity, advancement, cost and resources. Each criteria is weighted and the categories are totaled to give a rating score. Learn more about methodology »

The list can be broken down to show a complete ranking of the top public schools in each state from the list of 499 nationwide. Schools in the top 250 are given a ranking, while schools in the bottom 249 are listed alphabetically.

Take a look at the top 26 public colleges and universities in New York State below, see their rating score, see their rank from last year, and click the links to find out more.

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26. SUNY Potsdam

Rating points: 33.816

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 235

Rank a year ago: 189

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25. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Rating points: 38.299

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 195

Rank a year ago: n.a.

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24. SUNY College at Old Westbury

Rating points: 39.494

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 184

Rank a year ago: 155

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23. SUNY Fredonia

Rating points: 39.746

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 182

Rank a year ago: 170

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22. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Rating points: 42.235

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 170

Rank a year ago: Lower echelon

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21. Farmingdale State College

Rating points: 43.369

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 163

Rank a year ago: 166

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20. Lehman College

Rating points: 43.381

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 162

Rank a year ago: 106

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19. Purchase College

Rating points: 44.775

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 155

Rank a year ago: 100

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18. SUNY Maritime College

Rating points: 45.235

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 153

Rank a year ago: n.a.

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17. SUNY Cortland

Rating points: 45.995

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 144

Rank a year ago: 172

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16. SUNY Plattsburgh

Rating points: 46.435

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 139

Rank a year ago: 135

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15. SUNY Oswego

Rating points: 48.457

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 127

Rank a year ago: 125

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14. Brooklyn College

Rating points: 49.468

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 121

Rank a year ago: 85

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13. College at Brockport

Rating points: 50.101

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 114

Rank a year ago: 101

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12. SUNY College at Oneonta

Rating points: 50.116

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 113

Rank a year ago: 104

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11. Hunter College

Rating points: 51.259

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 102

Rank a year ago: 69

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10. City College of New York

Rating points: 51.574

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 100

Rank a year ago: 75

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9. Queens College

Rating points: 51.989

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 94

Rank a year ago: 79

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8. SUNY New Paltz

Rating points: 54.928

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 77

Rank a year ago: 74

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Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com

7. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Rating points: 57.074

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 67

Rank a year ago: 87

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6. University at Albany

Rating points: 61.386

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 53

Rank a year ago: 59

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5. SUNY Geneseo

Rating points: 61.687

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 52

Rank a year ago: 46

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4. Baruch College

Rating points: 68.189

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 39

Rank a year ago: 39

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David Duprey | The Associated Press

3. University at Buffalo

Rating points: 72.334

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 26

Rank a year ago: 41

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2. Stony Brook University

Rating points: 72.953

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 24

Rank a year ago: 27

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1. Binghamton University

Rating points: 76.867

Current rank (among 499 public colleges): 17

Rank a year ago: 20

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Ben Axelson | baxelson@nyup.com

READ MORE: Upstate NY's top-ranked colleges and universities for 50 popular majors

Upstate NY colleges and universities rank among the best in the nation for some of the most popular and highest paying college majors. Take a look through the list to find out which Upstate NY school is the highest ranked in these 50 popular undergraduate majors, according to CollegeFactual.com.