SUNY Poly makes U.S. News and World Report Top 20

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica Campus

SUNY Polytechnic Institute has been ranked 18^th by U.S. News & World Report in its 2017 list of Best Colleges in the Regional Universities North category.  The ranking is SUNY Poly’s strongest showing in the annual report and a dramatic jump from its 2016 ranking of 122.  Additionally, SUNY Poly was ranked 3^rd in Top Public Regional Universities North and 25^th in Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs.  The change in rankings is attributed to the first full year of data based on the completed merger of SUNY CNSE and SUNY IT.

“SUNY Polytechnic Institute continues to position SUNY as a leader in innovation-driven course offerings, degree programs, and research while providing students and their families a top-value in higher education,” said SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall. “The latest U.S News and World Report rankings have many impressive and much-deserved accolades for SUNY Poly. It is now among the top three public universities in the North and in the top ten for veterans.”

“The U.S. News & World Report rankings are a testament to the excellent programs and services provided by faculty and staff across SUNY, and a reminder to our current and future students that SUNY is dedicated to providing them with a highly valuable degree that will serve them well long after graduation,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Congratulations to SUNY Poly on this much-deserved recognition.”

The annual rankings by U.S. News group schools based on their Carnegie Classification, created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.  SUNY Poly is included in the Regional Universities North category and placed 18^th overall out of 143 ranked universities.  Within its classification, SUNY Poly was also ranked:

• Tied for 3^rd in Public Regional Universities North (37^th in 2016)
• Tied for 25^th in Undergraduate Engineering Programs (not listed in 2016)
• Tied for 10^th in the Best Colleges for Veterans (not listed in 2016)

There are seven general ranking categories, each with different weights assigned to them, that U.S. News & World Report use in determining the rankings.  These categories include graduation and retention, assessment of excellence, faculty resources and financial resources, among others.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Albany Campus, home of the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

“We see the success of SUNY Poly everyday in the achievement of our students, but to have an independent evaluation of our university deliver such high marks confirms we are on the right path and strengthens our resolve to keep raising the bar,” said SUNY Poly Senior Vice President, Dr. Robert Geer. “SUNY Poly is leading the way in educational and workforce training opportunities for the careers of the 21^st century and we’re delighted that this top 20 distinction helps spread the word.”

Over the last year, SUNY Poly has also continued to expand its course offerings for students, notably in nanobioscience at its Albany site and the creation of the Interactive Media and Game Design major at its Utica site.  Combined with world-class faculty and facilities, these new opportunities are attracting top students from around the nation and the world.

“SUNY Poly has drawn on the best features of other polytechnic institutions and added a strong interaction with industry and communities to form a powerful learn-by-doing curriculum,” said Dr. William Durgin, SUNY Poly Provost.  “Our wonderfully talented faculty provides our similarly talented students with exceptional educations and the skills to insure both their success and a prosperous economy. These U. S. News rankings are testimony to the innovative work of the entire SUNY Poly team.”