POPULATION (2021): 20 million
CAPITAL: Albany
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK: University at Buffalo
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK: New York University (also the largest private university in the country)
New York is the 4th most populated state in the country and the most populated state that was an original colony. Both population and time of statehood are pretty good signifiers of how many or few colleges will be in a state (older states = more universities), and New York has a ton of options for college, and not just in the biggest city in the country, New York City.
Most people know, at least, a little bit about NYC. It’s bright, it’s always busy, it’s huge, and there are a lot of famous entertainers who live there. It’s also home to some of the most prestigious universities in the country, and a very accessible community college system.
Outside of the city is a pretty large state, especially for the northeast. Niagra Falls is located on the northern border of New York, and it’s not the only breathtaking waterway in the state. For outdoors lovers, hiking and sightseeing are aplenty, as are the fishing, hunting, and skiing options. (Not to mention all of these colleges.)
Universities in New York – 4-Year Colleges and Online
New York takes their education very seriously, and the SUNY (State University of New York) system has more than 60 campuses throughout the state (when including its community colleges). There are also many private universities to choose from in New York, though many are located near NYC. The larger cities in New York (including the boroughs of NYC) have their own sections at the bottom of this article, but here is an overview of the colleges and universities in the state of New York.
Public Universities in New York
The public university system in New York is huge, and no matter what part of the state you enjoy the most, there is sure to be a public 4-year university pretty close to you. Here are the 4-year colleges that fall under the SUNY umbrella:
- University at Albany
- Alfred University
- Binghampton University
- University at Buffalo
- Cornell University
- Downstate Health Sciences University
- SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry
- SUNY College of Optometry
- Stony Brook University
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- Upstate Medical University
- SUNY Brockport
- Buffalo State University
- SUNY Cortland
- SUNY Empire State College
- SUNY Fredonia
- SUNY Geneseo
- SUNY New Paltz
- SUNY Old Westbury
- SUNY Oneonta
- SUNY Oswego
- SUNY Plattsburgh
- SUNY Potsdam
- Purchase College (SUNY)
Private Universities in New York
Below, there are individual sections for the universities in the cities of Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and the boroughs of New York City. The complete list of private universities in New York can be found here.
Community Colleges in New York
In addition to all of the state colleges above that offer 4-year degrees to New York students, there is also a large web of community colleges in the state of New York. Here they are:
- Adirondack Community College
- Broome Community College
- Cayuga County Community College
- Clinton Community College
- Columbia-Greene Community College
- Corning Community College
- Dutchess Community College
- Erie Community College
- Fashion Institute of Technology, Chelsea, Manhattan
- Finger Lakes Community College
- Fulton-Montgomery Community College
- Genesee Community College
- Herkimer County Community College
- Hudson Valley Community College
- Jamestown Community College
- Jefferson Community College
- Mohawk Valley Community College
- Monroe Community College
- Nassau Community College
- Niagara County Community College
- North Country Community College
- Onondaga Community College
- Orange County Community College
- Rockland Community College
- Schenectady County Community College
- Suffolk County Community College
- Sullivan County Community College
- Tompkins Cortland Community College
- Ulster County Community College
- Westchester Community College
Prominent Online Colleges in New York
Two of the state-funded public universities in New York are almost fully online, with the SUNY Learning Network and the Empire State College. For students in the public university system, the SUNY Learning Network will allow you to take classes that qualify as credit at any of the locations you choose to complete a degree at.
The vast majority of private universities in New York offer online courses, as well. Check the list above to verify.
Universities in Albany, NY
These colleges offer 4-year degrees in the capital city of Albany:
- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Bryant & Stratton College
- Excelsior College
- Maria College of Albany
- SUNY Albany
- The College of Saint Rose
Universities in Bronx, NY
Here is a list of 4-year colleges in the NYC borough of The Bronx:
- College of Mount Saint Vincent
- CUNY Lehman College
- Fordham University
- Monroe College
Universities in Brooklyn, NY
Here is a list of 4-year colleges in the NYC borough of Brooklyn:
- ASA College
- CUNY Brooklyn College
- CUNY Edgar Evers College
- CUNY New York City College of Technology
- Pratt Institute
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
- There are also several religious universities in Brooklyn
Universities in Buffalo, NY
Here is a list of 4-year colleges in the northern city of Buffalo, that shares a border with Canada:
- Brant & Stratton College-Buffalo
- Canisius College
- D’Youville College
- Medaille College
- SUNY Buffalo State
- Trocaire College
- University at Buffalo
- Villa Maria College
Universities in New York, NY
Here is a list of 4-year colleges located within the New York City municipality:
- American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Barnard College
- Boricua College
- Columbia University
- Cooper Union
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- CUNY City College
- CUNY Hunter College
- CUNY John J College of Criminal Justice
- Fashion Institute of Technology
- Helene Fuld College of Nursing
- Jewish Theological Seminary of America
- LIM College
- Manhattan School of Music
- Metropolitan College of New York
- New York School of Interior Design
- New York University
- Nyack College
- Pace University
- Pacific College of Oriental Medicine-NYC
- Phillips School of Nursing
- The Juilliard School
- The King’s College
- The New School
- Touro College
- Yeshiva University
Universities in Rochester, NY
Rochester is a northern New York City with these colleges and universities offering 4-year degrees:
- Bryant & Stratton College-Greece
- Nazareth College
- Roberts Wesleyan College
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Saint John Fisher College
- University of Rochester
Universities in Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University headlines the 4-year colleges in this New York town. Here are the other 4-year universities in Syracuse:
- Le Moyne College
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Syracuse University
- Upstate Medical University
Get to Know New York
New York really does have something for everyone, with sprawling fields and forests in the north, plenty of midsized cities with a real college feel, and, of course, the largest city in America for those who like the bustle!