Top New York Colleges and Universities

About this article
New York is located in the Northeast and is sometimes also referred to as being part of the Mid-Atlantic region. The state is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world.
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Top Five Schools in New York

Columbia University

Columbia University was founded in 1754 by King George II of England, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York. The university is located in uptown Manhattan and is currently ranked number nine by US News and World Report. Columbia has an undergraduate population of 7,318, as well as a very large graduate student population. Students have the opportunity to not only take advantage of the world-renown engineering, law, architecture and medical programs, but also to experience all the cultural and business events that take place in the New York City area.

Cornell University

Since 1865, Cornell University has been a cornerstone of education in New York State around the world. The university is located in Ithaca, NY, a small upstate community in the Fingerlakes Region. Its 13,562 undergraduate students study a wide variety of majors; some of the more distinguished departments include engineering and veterinary medicine. Cornell is unique among other Ivy League institutions in that it houses both public and private colleges. US News and World Report ranks Cornell #12 on its list of America's Best Colleges.

New York University

In the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village lies New York City University. Founded in 1831, NYU is now one of the largest private universities in the United States. It has an undergraduate enrollment of 20,965 and is ranked #34 on US News and World Report's list of America's Best Colleges. Since it is right in the middle of New York City's cultural and arts district, the university is well known for its Institute of Art and the excellent Tisch School of the Arts. NYU also has one of the oldest law schools in the nation.

University of Rochester

The University of Rochester began in 1850 in teh city of Rochester, New York. Rochester is found in upstate New York and is the ideal setting for this top research institution. US News and World Report ranks University of Rochester #35 on its list of America's Best Colleges. With 4,608 undergraduate students, the University of Rochester is a small, intimate university that also is a well-respected for research in the state of New York. The School of Engineering is one of the largest colleges on campus; and because the university sits in Rochester, engineering students enjoy many nearby internship opportunities at local technological companies.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a very well-respected technical institution in Troy, New York. The university currently has 5,192 undergraduate students on campus; and most all of these students are studying some variation of computer science. Besides being a mecca for the study of general computer science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is also very advanced in the study of robotics. The university is very selective in its entering class and only accepts the most qualified students whose primary interests are computer technology. It is ranked #44 by US News and World Report.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Secondary Education
    Master's
      • MA: Communication
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MA: Medical Sciences: Biopsychology
      • MA: Music Education: Music Studies
      • MBA: American Legal Studies
      • MS: Criminal Justice: Public Administration
    Bachelor's
      • BS: Psychology
      • BS: English & Writing: Journalism
      • BS: Strategic Communication: Social Media Management
      • BED: Business Education 6-12
      • BED: English Education 6-12
      • BED: Middle Education: Math
    Associate's
      • AA: Business
      • AA: Education (Non-Licensure)
      • AA: Psychology
      • AA: Philosophy, Politics, & Economics
      • AAS: Medical Office Assistant
      • AA: Accounting
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication
      • GRAD CERT: Fundamentals of Communication
      • CERT: Criminal Justice
      • CERT: Journalism Education
      • GRAD CERT: Advanced Criminal Justice
      • GRAD CERT: Applied Communication Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • BS in Organizational Management - Decision Management
      • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
      • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • AWS Cloud Technologies
      • Project Management
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
  • Campus Locations:
    4. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Technology
    Certificate
      • Computer Numerical Control Machining (CNC)
      • Automotive Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician
      • HVACR Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Industrial Maintenance Technician
  • Online Programs Available
    5. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - General Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
      • Master of Science in Data Science
      • MBA - Entrepreneurship
    Certificate
      • EdS - Educational Leadership
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in Higher Education
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in K-12 Education
      • Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Wake Forest University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Information Technology Management
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
      • Online - Ph.D. Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Consulting Track
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Track
      • Online - Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology
      • Online - Ed.D. Educational Psychology and Technology
    Master's
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
      • Online - M.A. International Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: ARP Track
      • Online - M.A. Applied Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Behavioral Economics
      • Online - M.A. Forensic Psychology: Non-Licensure Track
    Bachelor's
      • Online - B.S. Business Management
      • Online - BA Psychology: Focused Path
      • Online - B.A. Psychology
      • Online - B.S. Business Psychology
      • Online - B.A. Criminology
    Certificate
      • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
      • Online - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Generalist Certificate
      • Online - Certificate in Behavioral Economics
      • Online - Certificate in Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Child and Adolescent Psychology Certificate
      • Online - Crisis-Informed Care for a Diverse, Globalized World Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Ithaca, NY

    Cornell University

Featured Schools

Liberty University

  • DME: Music Education
  • MA: Communication
  • BS: Psychology
  • AA: Business
  • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • Doctor of Health Sciences
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
  • AASBA in Business
  • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

Universal Technical Institute

  • Aviation Technology
  • Computer Numerical Control Machining (CNC)
  • Automotive Technology

What is your highest level of education completed?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Educational Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Wake Forest University

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

The Chicago School

  • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
  • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
  • Online - B.S. Business Management
  • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?