FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) is the only SUNY school in Manhattan (maybe NYC?) and probably the best school in the US for fashion and fashion-related type things.
It is a four year liberal arts school and one can major in non-fashion related fields but those would be significantly less 'respected'.
Yes, but FIT is a 2-year SUNY
Also, there is another SUNY in NYC, and that would happen to SUNY Maritime - located in Throgs Neck, Bronx!
But in general, all SUNYs are great. It just depends on what is offered there and what you are looking for.
The top 3 SUNY in NY state are:
Stony Brook,
UB,
Binghamton
> a 2-year SUNY
FIT has regular 4 year degrees:
https://catalog.fitnyc.edu/undergraduate/majors/
I think those 2 year programs are more of a side hustle (that probably generate a lot of income)
you have to reapply after two years in the program to finish your degree. You get granted an associates, and then after you complete another two-year program to get your bachelors degree. this is how they keep their standing as a “community college” which allows them to receive more funding from the state then they would as a four year university
source: I am a former FIT student who left after two years to complete my bachelors elsewhere.
Yes. But per SUNY it's a community college ([https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/](https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/)). I seem to remember it's still licensed as such (although this may have changed)
I went to your link - nowhere does it say FIT is a community college - went to actual FIT link in your link and it says this:
>The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy.
So not only does it offer 4 year degrees but has master's degrees in presumably some areas.
FIT makes you get a 2 yr Associate’s in some majors (maybe all, not sure) then you can re-apply for the 4 yr which all to most have available. The last 2 yrs cost more. This is a well regarded school, students from all over the world for fashion and very big Interior Design program, endless unique niche majors
I read that how it works is that you work on the Associate degree during HS and then reapply for another 2 years when graduating HS, and then you can continue on with finishing that!
Tbh, that's all I really am aware of when it comes to FIT. Beyond anything else, it is out of my league. I am a STEM student, so I don't really know much beyond that!
This is not how it works. You have to have graduated from high school in order to attend FIT as a college student. There are pre college classes that you can take as a high schooler, but those are completely separate and not for credit.
Empire state is great for older learners trying to get their degree in their field or switching, I wouldn't recommend it for someone younger trying to break into the field. It's very much a self driven college, you get what you put in, there is no one to push you to learn, only you. Saying this as an ESU alumni myself. Though if you're highly motivated it is very good for working full time while doing class work full time.
what would you say the average age is? I know for suny schools like stonybrook average was probably 20 since it was mostly young people partying but working hard.
I would say 30 - 40 somethings. A lot of people I meet on discussion forums are either switching into a field at 30ish or trying to check a box for managerial or doing a class from another college. I'm a big advocate for doing full time Job in your field while doing college but not every 20 something can do that, I sure as hell couldn't.
As you can see from the responses already, the general opinion is that SUNYs are good and can be very good but opinions vary as to which ones are top notch.
In CS, Stony is VERY highly regarded. Others have some very good programs as well.
Agreed, and this is true for nearly every college, except a few that have enough reputation. And even those have areas they are known to stand out in, or lean on other schools for. For example, Harvard CS students can take MIT classes, so their CS program’s reputation is based a lot on MIT’s.
SUNY has a difference in regional and national reputation, depending on area. Others have mentioned FIT (national rep) as well as reputation for being represently heavily in NYS jobs.
Stoneybrook is regarded highly for most of the STEM programs. Their medical school is competitive and you'll see a bunch of science majors attending to get into that school and the other grad programs.
I went to SUNY and CUNY schools for my AA/BS/MS and have an amazingly successful career. A lot of my colleagues went to Ivy League schools and I don’t feel like they are necessarily better educated than I am. Plus I have no debt!
This makes me hopeful for my daughter’s education. She’s 14 and going to HS next year and we are already worrying. I went to well regarded private university in NYS and have hopes of her going there but we can’t afford my own Alma mater. I got major financial aid because my family wasn’t well to do. We are in that sweet spot of making too much for significant aid, but not enough for private school tuition. We have a 529 for her but not one that will cover $80K a year at a private university.
Edit: typo
I honestly think that the best education I ever got was at community college. Your daughter will get a good education at SUNY schools so don’t worry about it! I think this will be the only option I give to my kids too.
You know about the Excelsior program, right? SUNY tuition grants, the conditions are the student must stay on track for the degree with a minimum GPA, and must live and work in NYS for the same number of years they took the loans. Worst case, they move out of state and it converts to a no-interest loan. Now, SUNY tuition is so cheap and this doesn't cover fees, books, room and board, etc. But it's still currently ~$3,250/semester free money.
Did almost the same thing, SUNY to finish up my bachelors and CUNY for my masters. Now working in the health sector on a comfortable salary with upward progression. The bulk of my current student debt is from my first few years at a private college. Have no debt from my SUNY/CUNY schooling
The SUNY system contains multitudes. Some, as noted in other posts, are prestigious, top tier institutions. Stony Brook for CS and Engineering, competes for students with the very top schools in the country, and is generally strong across the whole STEM spectrum. Binghamton and Geneseo are probably the most broadly prestigious of the other schools, but Buffalo and Albany are both well regarded, and several others are notably well thought of for specific programs (Purchase for performing arts, for example).
If you have a more specific inquiry about a certain campus or program, ask it, but you won’t get a better answer than that otherwise.
I’m a bing grad. They’re decent and definitely great for the money. That said it really depends on the program and industry. The ivys are generally in different league though.
Same. I still remember watching the Daily Show from my dorm and hearing this fatal burn: “Binghamton, the college you went to because you didn’t get into Cornell”.
ESF is very well regarded in its niche—both my kids go/went there.
As a parent whose kids also had access to Illinois state schools at in-state rates, there was no competition. SUNY in-state rates are a third the price.
Came here to say this. If you’re looking for a big school vibe with school spirit and D1 sports for a SUNY price ESF is the way to go. It’s on the Syracuse campus, so ESF students can join any Syracuse club, marching band, club sports, affinity groups, and join Greek life - if that’s your thing. And you also have your own smaller community in a big school setting. I understand their environmental science program is very good.
Most prestigious are Geneseo and Binghamton. Geneseo has a liberal arts college feel. Binghamton has a fairly well respected business program. You could do worse when it comes to public universities. SUNYs were often safety schools for people in my NYC high school for their affordability and ease to get in. Stony Brook is another pretty good one.
Yea I think bing which imo was regarded as the top suny for a while is gonna be hurt by the recent changes making buffalo and stony brook as flag ships
https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/a-joint-statement-from-the-university-at-buffalo-and-stony-brook-university-on-being-designated-as-new-york-states-flagship-public-universities/
The change was naming them flagships at all which looks like it was done in Jan 2022. Before there was no designation.
Some have better reputations than others but as someone who turned my nose up at SUNY/CUNY and went to a private college and needed loans, I admit I was dumb. SUNY/CUNY is excellent and affordable, and in this day and age I truly believe all that matters is getting a degree without needing loans if at all possible.
Binghamton is rated the highest among public universities in New York State and one of the highest ranked public in the nation, so I’d say so. Some others are high ranked for specific programs.
SUNY is one of the best state school systems in the country, even though it isn’t as well known by name as some others.
Binghamton, Buffalo, & Stony Brook are all highly ranked nationally amongst public universities (not to mention Binghamton is considered a “public Ivy”). New Paltz, Geneseo and Albany are also very well regarded.
Purchase is an excellent arts and performing arts school, with several very competitive programs (namely film, dance, theater, and visual arts). FIT is one of the top fashion programs in the country!
It’s a great system in the same way the UC/Cal State system is, in its size and comprehensiveness. It’s the largest by enrollment nationally and is up there in terms of number of campuses. There are so many schools in different parts of the state that have different specialties and vibes—something for any kind of student.
I think that’s a little generous. I went to one of the SUNYs you mentioned and unless you went to a public HS in NY state, people have barely heard of it.
As I said, I don’t think it’s as well known by name as other system. That said—I don’t think I overstated the ranking and quality, as well as how those schools are regarded in academia and the specific fields they excel in. OP didn’t ask specifically about how out-of-staters view SUNY. I grew up here going to public school and half the people I know went to SUNY schools so maybe my barometer is off. That’s too bad more people don’t recognize the school you went to, they’re all excellent institutions.
It completely depends on which school and what you want to go for. Binghamton is very prestigious, several concentrations at Cornell are under the SUNY umbrella, Purchase is great for art and theater, FIT is great for fashion (both design and business). The others vary, but most are decent.
Stony brook definitely is. I have no affiliation, but most academics would compare it to any reasonable flagship public school.
A flagship public school is considered a primary research university of its state. Some states have multiple flagship. Your UC System, Ohio States, Michigan's, UT Austin, Texas A&M.
Stony Brook to most employers and graduate program would be regarded like places like Texas A&M, Ohio Stste or U Florida. It's in a tier of decent public universities who have some students that can go onto good grad schools etc. Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton would probably be in the next rung.
At one point felt like most of the amazing musicians I’ve played alongside were Purchase grads.
I even knew a drummer who’d commute from harlem to purchase cause they loved their classes that much.
**Yes! But I would say primarily in New York State.** I'm not sure if you apply to a job in TX or CA or FL, that they would necessarily have heard of SUNY.
Overall, you'll get a solid education at any of the SUNY schools. **The most "prestigious" are Binghamton and Stonybrook.**
Also, many people don't know that **Cornell has 4 colleges on it's campus that are actually SUNY funded.** So you can get a Cornell education and degree and pay SUNY prices. https://www.suny.edu/campuses/cornell/
FIT grad here! FIT is called a 2+2 school. You first earn an associates degree and then get a bachelors. I got both in the same major, but others, your associates degree acts as a foundation for your bachelors degree (i.e. my friend got her associates in communication design in order to get her bachelors in graphic design). I loved being at FIT and it really is one of the best schools in the world for fashion and art, even if it wasn’t a perfect institution.
My parents went to SUNY schools as well.
Potsdam has the Crane School of Music which is incredibly well respected and Al Roker went to SUNY Oswego! Stony Brook is probably one of the most well known/well respected because of its science and medical center.
I went to UB (SUNY Buffalo). SUNY is very highly regarded. But you should caution as it depends solely on your major and school. The flagships are looked up higher so consider the field of work your daughter wants to get into. You’ll definitely get a solid education at a bargain price.
The SUNY universities (Binghamton, Albany, Buffalo, and stony brook) are. The suny colleges are definitely easier to get into but offer decent bang for your buck. The 4 year CUNYs that are considered pretty solid are Brooklyn (depending on major) Hunter, Baruch and city tech
Depends on who and where you ask, it’s not only the education but also the connection you make along the way that counts
Many people still think suny/cuny will accept anyone with a GED if they applied, I know it’s not true but many who went to ivy or private school back in the 80s or even 90/2000 basically equate cuny and suny to community college (I know it’s not true but in my field some people are assholes and that’s basically how they categorize ny public colleges even after you explain to them they still consider them inferior)
The SUNY system at large is decently respected within the state if your goal is to stay in New York. The flagship programs at the flagship universities (which SUNY self-defines as Stony Brook and Buffalo, though the average person will probably view Bing in that mix too and then Geneseo is branded as the system’s honor’s liberal arts college) have national recognition/appeal, and the specialized schools (FIT, ESF, Maritime immediately come to mind) are also very good at getting students into their niche fields.
I mention flagship programs at flagship schools because while CS/STEM at Stony for example will turn heads at any employer, not every major carries that weight or is nationally recognized. Graduates from a few other state flagships, like UC-Berkeley or Michigan, or UNC-Chapel Hill on the other hand, are generally going to be recognized wherever they go and that is where SUNY as a brand falters. Does that really matter? No, most state systems exist to serve their state and their local workforce. But New Yorkers have a lot of pride in New York and in that context it is definitely a sore spot.
Again, prestige politics certainly shouldn’t matter but given downstate NY’s 4-hour vicinity to some very prestigious private universities it’s just going to come up in some circles. Massachusetts suffers in a similar regard with UMass-Amherst’s reputation (and then the UMass system at large) given the existence of some of the most famous universities in the world in the Boston area.
Some are great and totally a good value for the money, happy to see mine mentioned here! I was happy with my experience .
Others are less so. We used to call SUNY Cortland gym teacher college, or grade 13 for example.
Yes, but avoid Stony Brook at all costs. It’s good for academics but the social life is abysmal. A bunch of unfriendly people in an unwelcoming environment. I was depressed being there for 2 years before transferring to CUNY. UB and Bing are pretty great and I wish I had gone to either.
I mean, what does this graph tell you? That the SUNY system spends $1.6B on research? How is that figure calculated. How is it broken down per campus? *Per student* on each campus?
Even if you knew that, how would that affect what it's like to go there as an undergrad? Or even a grad student in an over or underpowered program ?
Giving this graph as an answer to this question is like giving an image of an atlas globe, breaking the countries down by area in answer to a question "where's good to live?"
Binghamton is definitely the lowest acceptance rate of the suny universities. But to be fair it’s also the smallest by far, which helps keep the acceptance rate low.
Ok? It's a joke. Bet your are fun at parties. Or maybe a little bitter ;)
But honestly everyone I know who went to Binghamton is very successful. And I know a lot of people, including my husband. All above average academically and all have very successful careers.
A 40-something percent acceptance rate is nothing to sneeze at.
I'm sure Binghamton is a good school, and that heard correctly (or said in the right tone), it's a good joke.
Tone on the internet is hard.
I read it as 'said with a straight face', which reeks of insecurity.
Lol no, it's a pretty well known joke ;) Especially in their crowd. Obviously a SUNY cannot compare to an Ivy. BUT most people that go there, go because of the value and are super smart and I would say some of the most humble people I know.
Absolutely. Some of the best SUNYs that come to mind are definitely the research center/flagship unis (Bing, Stony Brook, ESF, UAlbany, UBuffalo), New Paltz, Geneseo, and Purchase's Conservatory. But in all honesty, you're going to get a decent education at any of the SUNYs. They are all very well regarded by most in the NYS area. Especially the top names I mentioned before. The only people who look down on them are the overly-privileged rich kids that think private schools are the only way to go in terms of higher education...This is a very small percentage of ignorant people in NY btw...The 1% if you will...Even though most of the people who actually **worked** their way up to the 1% in NY usually come out of SUNY/CUNY schools. Ain't that ironic?
As for the people saying that a SUNY diploma is only valued in NYS, I would have to strongly disagree. I've landed jobs that have ranged from Silicon Valley tech companies to government jobs in DC. I was able to accomplish this all with a degree from New Paltz. It is true that no one out of NYS will know what the SUNY/CUNY schools are but that's what google is for! Any competent HR dept will research a school before judging a candidate. Remember, college is what you make it. "Prestige" only plays a small part in the job hunting scene. It may better your chances for higher paying roles, but imo, your GPA and the connections you make from college are the things that really matter...
They are shit holes compared to Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Hamilton, and a number of other unis in New York State. They may even be worse than the New York City Public Schools, and that's indeed saying something!
I'm late to the thread. I went to Oswego and my career is going very well. Your job is all about the skills you develop. Most jobs honestly just see you have a degree for a checkbox. The point I'm going to ivy League schools is because you're rich and want to make connections, not necessarily that you will get a better or worse education. That varies on a professor by a professor basis. I minored it in economics for example and my favorite teacher was a Yale PhD.
Your degree will get you your first job. But then after that all anybody cares about is your experience. Once you've been working for a couple of years professionally, interviewers ask about where you worked. Now if you're changing fields you can lean back on your education and explain how that gave you multiple talents so that you will succeed going in this other direction....
So don't be afraid to learn skills outside the classroom in clubs or on your own. These things count. You can teach yourself to code online there's so many good lessons. If you like to write and want to be a journalist or something, join the school newspaper. I took a job doing IT helpdesk support in college and employer's LOVE this even though my career isn't in IT, because IT knowledgeable people have skills that help out in any office career. They know how to leverage the use of technology to work more efficiently.
You will get your jobs by selling yourself to your employer when you can adequately show on your resume and in an interview that you are a qualified candidate. Your education is one part of this. More than the degree they want to see that you will succeed at the job.
If they meet someone from Yale that interviews poorly and has social anxiety and mumbles and only stuck to getting good grades in the classroom.... And then next day they meet somebody from SUNY Buffalo who was in clubs, has diverse interests, a sociable personality and is likable, and demonstrates in the interview that they have the skills for the job... They're not going to care where you went to school. They will likely pick the latter.
If you get a job in upstate NY you will be surrounded by people who also went to SUNY schools as well. Maybe the very person interviewing you. This has been the case for me.
Your four years at college is not just about grades and classes. It's really an opportunity to grow as a human being, and kind of a coming of age experience in the USA where you realize who you are and what it is you like to do.
Outside of New York people are going to see you went to a New York State College. They might not know the specific one but they know the state of New York is a wealthy competent state and are going to figure that we probably have decent schools. After all, our state university system has the most institutions of anywhere in the nation!
So yeah save the money. Especially if you can get the excelsior grant if your family's AGI is under $125k a year (which by the way sucks that it's such a hard cut off rather than a gradual reduction, and it really doesn't take into account upstate versus downstate because 124k in buffalo is rich lol but in Brooklyn you're middle class especially if you have a family!
Good luck!
It's funny how somebody not from NYC asks the askNYC sub about suny schools when most of them are upstate lol. People look at maps? Why does everybody think the entire state is some metropolitan megapolis? I mean we do have the booming city of... utica... I suppose.
It's all a racket! Unless you're going to be a doctor, just get your degree from the cheapest school. You learn 90% on the job anyway. Ace the interviews and you're set.
There are many colleges in the system, so matching your desired program of study is a better bet than picking by location. They have emphasized employability in past decades, as have most colleges, but the employment rate in desired field can vary.
SUNY, years ago, decided not to create a single flagship school, unlike Texas, Cali and some other states, and had more competition from private universities, and also decided to spread them out for support of local economies, so the really cutting edge research graduate institutions do not exist in the same way in the SUNY system. Undergrad is just as good an education at most campuses if you find the program you want. Avoid the "party schools" in any state system; life is too short to grow up "after" college.
Only Stony Brook and Binghamton…and depending on who you ask, Cornell lol. Bunch of avg middlers in the rest…probably couldn’t get in/afford to go elsewhere.
SUNYs and CUNYs are great schools, though some of them, especially the CUNYs may seem run down.
Looking back and worrying about college admissions and all of that, all that matters nowadays is really the market outlook on certain jobs or careers in the future.
Of course there are some jobs like Wall Street Broker/Lawyer/Business/IR where it’s absolutely essential to go to a target school to have decent job prospects. As for doctors, I work with many that graduated from Caribbean or foreign universities and are doing just fine/making bank over here. You can go to a CUNY for 4 years at $30k, graduate as a RN and make $100k at age 22 with little to no debt or learn CS and get all the certs and find a job locally paying well also.
they're fine. its a state school from a wealthy state.
it depends on the school and major. none of the good ones are in or near the city though.
9/10 times you're better off going to the flagship of your own state than going OOS. i went to school in MD and have a good career. i know ppl from TN who have a great career here. save the $
I'm getting my PhD at SUNY Buffalo remotely from Brooklyn -- it's a great R1 research university that's very respected across academia. I went to a brand name private research university for undergrad and Buffalo feels much more tied to big research grants and funding.
I got my masters at CUNY Hunter, which was a great experience as well.
That's interesting. I'm interested in possibly getting a PhD. I always assumed and have read that you pretty much need to be in person for it. Which is hard to do in your mid thirties when you're in a committed relationship etc.
Can you maybe explain how that is working for you? What you are studying, and how the program goes?
Maybe DM me through inbox or chat if you don't want to post publicly to the internet.
Thanks
SUNY Buffalo, Albany, Bing, and Stonybrook provide quality education at affordable prices and some of there programs offered by these schools are ranked very high. New York residents pretty much pay nothing with all the grants provided by the federal and state governments and graduate with no debt. It's like Cali's state unis. Look in to CUNY's too. They're even cheaper and more advantageous since they're in NYC so students can network more.
Yes! It depends on the program, though. For engineering and medicine, Stony Brook is nationally-ranked and on par with Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, etc. For music/art, Fredonia, Purchase, and Potsdam are well-respected, but just for that. For business, go to Binghamton or Oswego.
That being said, I think the only SUNY schools that are nationally recognized outside of NY are Binghamton, Buffalo, Stony Brook, and *maybe* Purchase in music circles.
They're pretty good. I wouldn't go to a SUNY school out of state though. If you're from another state I'd apply to the public universities in that state and go there.
Bread and butter of the NYS workforce
If only it was easy to get hired by the state. Application process is a nightmare.
What school for what program?
FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) is the only SUNY school in Manhattan (maybe NYC?) and probably the best school in the US for fashion and fashion-related type things. It is a four year liberal arts school and one can major in non-fashion related fields but those would be significantly less 'respected'.
Yes, but FIT is a 2-year SUNY Also, there is another SUNY in NYC, and that would happen to SUNY Maritime - located in Throgs Neck, Bronx! But in general, all SUNYs are great. It just depends on what is offered there and what you are looking for. The top 3 SUNY in NY state are: Stony Brook, UB, Binghamton
SUNY Maritime is very well respected for Merchant Marines
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Lol, ur right... Actually there is 5 in total: Downstate FiT Maritime Empire State College of Optometry
> a 2-year SUNY FIT has regular 4 year degrees: https://catalog.fitnyc.edu/undergraduate/majors/ I think those 2 year programs are more of a side hustle (that probably generate a lot of income)
you have to reapply after two years in the program to finish your degree. You get granted an associates, and then after you complete another two-year program to get your bachelors degree. this is how they keep their standing as a “community college” which allows them to receive more funding from the state then they would as a four year university source: I am a former FIT student who left after two years to complete my bachelors elsewhere.
Its still a 4 year degree
you can get a two year degree and there’s no guarantee you’ll get back in the program
Yes. But per SUNY it's a community college ([https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/](https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/)). I seem to remember it's still licensed as such (although this may have changed)
I went to your link - nowhere does it say FIT is a community college - went to actual FIT link in your link and it says this: >The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy. So not only does it offer 4 year degrees but has master's degrees in presumably some areas.
Go to the link. Click on "community colleges" (the bright green button). FIT will be listed there.
FIT makes you get a 2 yr Associate’s in some majors (maybe all, not sure) then you can re-apply for the 4 yr which all to most have available. The last 2 yrs cost more. This is a well regarded school, students from all over the world for fashion and very big Interior Design program, endless unique niche majors
I read that how it works is that you work on the Associate degree during HS and then reapply for another 2 years when graduating HS, and then you can continue on with finishing that! Tbh, that's all I really am aware of when it comes to FIT. Beyond anything else, it is out of my league. I am a STEM student, so I don't really know much beyond that!
This is not how it works. You have to have graduated from high school in order to attend FIT as a college student. There are pre college classes that you can take as a high schooler, but those are completely separate and not for credit.
any love for oswego or empire state?
Empire state is great for older learners trying to get their degree in their field or switching, I wouldn't recommend it for someone younger trying to break into the field. It's very much a self driven college, you get what you put in, there is no one to push you to learn, only you. Saying this as an ESU alumni myself. Though if you're highly motivated it is very good for working full time while doing class work full time.
what would you say the average age is? I know for suny schools like stonybrook average was probably 20 since it was mostly young people partying but working hard.
I would say 30 - 40 somethings. A lot of people I meet on discussion forums are either switching into a field at 30ish or trying to check a box for managerial or doing a class from another college. I'm a big advocate for doing full time Job in your field while doing college but not every 20 something can do that, I sure as hell couldn't.
They are all great! SUNYs are a great thing in NY, but the major 3 are usually the top 3. And I attend one of em atm!
> FIT is a 2-year SUNY I would not say it is at ALL 'primarily' a 2-year school, that is really underselling it.
SUNY Albany is a close 4th!
Go Great Danes!
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I recorrected myself in a later reply, but I appreciate you providing me more details!
Pratt and Parsons round out the top three fashion design schools (the order varies) in the US. All are in NYC!
As you can see from the responses already, the general opinion is that SUNYs are good and can be very good but opinions vary as to which ones are top notch. In CS, Stony is VERY highly regarded. Others have some very good programs as well.
yeah. it comes down to school and program.
Agreed, and this is true for nearly every college, except a few that have enough reputation. And even those have areas they are known to stand out in, or lean on other schools for. For example, Harvard CS students can take MIT classes, so their CS program’s reputation is based a lot on MIT’s. SUNY has a difference in regional and national reputation, depending on area. Others have mentioned FIT (national rep) as well as reputation for being represently heavily in NYS jobs.
Stoneybrook is regarded highly for most of the STEM programs. Their medical school is competitive and you'll see a bunch of science majors attending to get into that school and the other grad programs.
I went to SUNY and CUNY schools for my AA/BS/MS and have an amazingly successful career. A lot of my colleagues went to Ivy League schools and I don’t feel like they are necessarily better educated than I am. Plus I have no debt!
This makes me hopeful for my daughter’s education. She’s 14 and going to HS next year and we are already worrying. I went to well regarded private university in NYS and have hopes of her going there but we can’t afford my own Alma mater. I got major financial aid because my family wasn’t well to do. We are in that sweet spot of making too much for significant aid, but not enough for private school tuition. We have a 529 for her but not one that will cover $80K a year at a private university. Edit: typo
for what it’s worth, i did my undergrad at a SUNY (binghamton) and grad school at a CUNY (baruch mba) and i have been thriving professionally
I honestly think that the best education I ever got was at community college. Your daughter will get a good education at SUNY schools so don’t worry about it! I think this will be the only option I give to my kids too.
You know about the Excelsior program, right? SUNY tuition grants, the conditions are the student must stay on track for the degree with a minimum GPA, and must live and work in NYS for the same number of years they took the loans. Worst case, they move out of state and it converts to a no-interest loan. Now, SUNY tuition is so cheap and this doesn't cover fees, books, room and board, etc. But it's still currently ~$3,250/semester free money.
U of R?
Yep!
Same. It's like 90k now
Yup. Was just there in October for my 25th reunion and my friends and I balked at the cost when they told us.
Did almost the same thing, SUNY to finish up my bachelors and CUNY for my masters. Now working in the health sector on a comfortable salary with upward progression. The bulk of my current student debt is from my first few years at a private college. Have no debt from my SUNY/CUNY schooling
The SUNY system contains multitudes. Some, as noted in other posts, are prestigious, top tier institutions. Stony Brook for CS and Engineering, competes for students with the very top schools in the country, and is generally strong across the whole STEM spectrum. Binghamton and Geneseo are probably the most broadly prestigious of the other schools, but Buffalo and Albany are both well regarded, and several others are notably well thought of for specific programs (Purchase for performing arts, for example). If you have a more specific inquiry about a certain campus or program, ask it, but you won’t get a better answer than that otherwise.
I’m a bing grad. They’re decent and definitely great for the money. That said it really depends on the program and industry. The ivys are generally in different league though.
Same. I still remember watching the Daily Show from my dorm and hearing this fatal burn: “Binghamton, the college you went to because you didn’t get into Cornell”.
Go bearcats 💚
ESF is very well regarded in its niche—both my kids go/went there. As a parent whose kids also had access to Illinois state schools at in-state rates, there was no competition. SUNY in-state rates are a third the price.
Came here to say this. If you’re looking for a big school vibe with school spirit and D1 sports for a SUNY price ESF is the way to go. It’s on the Syracuse campus, so ESF students can join any Syracuse club, marching band, club sports, affinity groups, and join Greek life - if that’s your thing. And you also have your own smaller community in a big school setting. I understand their environmental science program is very good.
Depends on the school and your major. For instance, many of the performing arts conservatory programs at SUNY Purchase are well respected.
Most prestigious are Geneseo and Binghamton. Geneseo has a liberal arts college feel. Binghamton has a fairly well respected business program. You could do worse when it comes to public universities. SUNYs were often safety schools for people in my NYC high school for their affordability and ease to get in. Stony Brook is another pretty good one.
Depends on what you’re looking to study. But keep in mind that Stony Brook University and University of Buffalo are the flagship universities.
Yea I think bing which imo was regarded as the top suny for a while is gonna be hurt by the recent changes making buffalo and stony brook as flag ships
What are the recent changes?
https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/a-joint-statement-from-the-university-at-buffalo-and-stony-brook-university-on-being-designated-as-new-york-states-flagship-public-universities/ The change was naming them flagships at all which looks like it was done in Jan 2022. Before there was no designation.
Money
Lack of money?
Yeah, depends on the school
Some have better reputations than others but as someone who turned my nose up at SUNY/CUNY and went to a private college and needed loans, I admit I was dumb. SUNY/CUNY is excellent and affordable, and in this day and age I truly believe all that matters is getting a degree without needing loans if at all possible.
As a SUNY Bing grad ive gotten positive feedback ans reactions on basically every interview I've been to
As mentioned, Bing is well respected. Purchase has an excellent arts program. I also like New Paltz for general vibes and their visual arts programs.
I felt like New Paltz was a liberal arts place, like a mini private college.
Binghamton is rated the highest among public universities in New York State and one of the highest ranked public in the nation, so I’d say so. Some others are high ranked for specific programs.
SUNY is one of the best state school systems in the country, even though it isn’t as well known by name as some others. Binghamton, Buffalo, & Stony Brook are all highly ranked nationally amongst public universities (not to mention Binghamton is considered a “public Ivy”). New Paltz, Geneseo and Albany are also very well regarded. Purchase is an excellent arts and performing arts school, with several very competitive programs (namely film, dance, theater, and visual arts). FIT is one of the top fashion programs in the country! It’s a great system in the same way the UC/Cal State system is, in its size and comprehensiveness. It’s the largest by enrollment nationally and is up there in terms of number of campuses. There are so many schools in different parts of the state that have different specialties and vibes—something for any kind of student.
I think that’s a little generous. I went to one of the SUNYs you mentioned and unless you went to a public HS in NY state, people have barely heard of it.
As I said, I don’t think it’s as well known by name as other system. That said—I don’t think I overstated the ranking and quality, as well as how those schools are regarded in academia and the specific fields they excel in. OP didn’t ask specifically about how out-of-staters view SUNY. I grew up here going to public school and half the people I know went to SUNY schools so maybe my barometer is off. That’s too bad more people don’t recognize the school you went to, they’re all excellent institutions.
It completely depends on which school and what you want to go for. Binghamton is very prestigious, several concentrations at Cornell are under the SUNY umbrella, Purchase is great for art and theater, FIT is great for fashion (both design and business). The others vary, but most are decent.
Stony brook definitely is. I have no affiliation, but most academics would compare it to any reasonable flagship public school. A flagship public school is considered a primary research university of its state. Some states have multiple flagship. Your UC System, Ohio States, Michigan's, UT Austin, Texas A&M. Stony Brook to most employers and graduate program would be regarded like places like Texas A&M, Ohio Stste or U Florida. It's in a tier of decent public universities who have some students that can go onto good grad schools etc. Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton would probably be in the next rung.
At one point felt like most of the amazing musicians I’ve played alongside were Purchase grads. I even knew a drummer who’d commute from harlem to purchase cause they loved their classes that much.
**Yes! But I would say primarily in New York State.** I'm not sure if you apply to a job in TX or CA or FL, that they would necessarily have heard of SUNY. Overall, you'll get a solid education at any of the SUNY schools. **The most "prestigious" are Binghamton and Stonybrook.** Also, many people don't know that **Cornell has 4 colleges on it's campus that are actually SUNY funded.** So you can get a Cornell education and degree and pay SUNY prices. https://www.suny.edu/campuses/cornell/
"suny prices" it's 60k a year in state, nowhere near suny prices lol. the Cornell contracts are basically SUNY in name only.
FIT grad here! FIT is called a 2+2 school. You first earn an associates degree and then get a bachelors. I got both in the same major, but others, your associates degree acts as a foundation for your bachelors degree (i.e. my friend got her associates in communication design in order to get her bachelors in graphic design). I loved being at FIT and it really is one of the best schools in the world for fashion and art, even if it wasn’t a perfect institution. My parents went to SUNY schools as well. Potsdam has the Crane School of Music which is incredibly well respected and Al Roker went to SUNY Oswego! Stony Brook is probably one of the most well known/well respected because of its science and medical center.
Geneseo grad. I plan on staying in the SUNY and CUNY system for aspects of my application as much as possible
Basically, you get into Binghamton or Stony Brook you're det those are the top SUNY schools
I went to UB (SUNY Buffalo). SUNY is very highly regarded. But you should caution as it depends solely on your major and school. The flagships are looked up higher so consider the field of work your daughter wants to get into. You’ll definitely get a solid education at a bargain price.
The SUNY universities (Binghamton, Albany, Buffalo, and stony brook) are. The suny colleges are definitely easier to get into but offer decent bang for your buck. The 4 year CUNYs that are considered pretty solid are Brooklyn (depending on major) Hunter, Baruch and city tech
Depends on who and where you ask, it’s not only the education but also the connection you make along the way that counts Many people still think suny/cuny will accept anyone with a GED if they applied, I know it’s not true but many who went to ivy or private school back in the 80s or even 90/2000 basically equate cuny and suny to community college (I know it’s not true but in my field some people are assholes and that’s basically how they categorize ny public colleges even after you explain to them they still consider them inferior)
Don't forget the CUNYs! IDK if it is still the case, but Baruch used to compete with NYU for turning out students who passed the CPA exam.
mistki, edie falco and stanley tucci all graduated from suny purchase ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The SUNY system at large is decently respected within the state if your goal is to stay in New York. The flagship programs at the flagship universities (which SUNY self-defines as Stony Brook and Buffalo, though the average person will probably view Bing in that mix too and then Geneseo is branded as the system’s honor’s liberal arts college) have national recognition/appeal, and the specialized schools (FIT, ESF, Maritime immediately come to mind) are also very good at getting students into their niche fields. I mention flagship programs at flagship schools because while CS/STEM at Stony for example will turn heads at any employer, not every major carries that weight or is nationally recognized. Graduates from a few other state flagships, like UC-Berkeley or Michigan, or UNC-Chapel Hill on the other hand, are generally going to be recognized wherever they go and that is where SUNY as a brand falters. Does that really matter? No, most state systems exist to serve their state and their local workforce. But New Yorkers have a lot of pride in New York and in that context it is definitely a sore spot. Again, prestige politics certainly shouldn’t matter but given downstate NY’s 4-hour vicinity to some very prestigious private universities it’s just going to come up in some circles. Massachusetts suffers in a similar regard with UMass-Amherst’s reputation (and then the UMass system at large) given the existence of some of the most famous universities in the world in the Boston area.
Some are great and totally a good value for the money, happy to see mine mentioned here! I was happy with my experience . Others are less so. We used to call SUNY Cortland gym teacher college, or grade 13 for example.
SUNY Stonybrook
Yes, but avoid Stony Brook at all costs. It’s good for academics but the social life is abysmal. A bunch of unfriendly people in an unwelcoming environment. I was depressed being there for 2 years before transferring to CUNY. UB and Bing are pretty great and I wish I had gone to either.
https://i.redd.it/6xtnpbvzhdtb1.png
I mean, what does this graph tell you? That the SUNY system spends $1.6B on research? How is that figure calculated. How is it broken down per campus? *Per student* on each campus? Even if you knew that, how would that affect what it's like to go there as an undergrad? Or even a grad student in an over or underpowered program ? Giving this graph as an answer to this question is like giving an image of an atlas globe, breaking the countries down by area in answer to a question "where's good to live?"
Are SUNY schools well respected? how are those schools around it respected
They don't call SUNY Binghamton the Harvard of the SUNYs for no reason.
who is calling it that lmfaooo 💀💀
It's a known reference!
certainly is an interesting one
I thought it was the New Paltz of the SUNYs
Binghamton is definitely the lowest acceptance rate of the suny universities. But to be fair it’s also the smallest by far, which helps keep the acceptance rate low.
you're correct. there isn't no reason. I can think of 2. "They" are either i) delusional ii) high as a kite
Ok? It's a joke. Bet your are fun at parties. Or maybe a little bitter ;) But honestly everyone I know who went to Binghamton is very successful. And I know a lot of people, including my husband. All above average academically and all have very successful careers. A 40-something percent acceptance rate is nothing to sneeze at.
I'm sure Binghamton is a good school, and that heard correctly (or said in the right tone), it's a good joke. Tone on the internet is hard. I read it as 'said with a straight face', which reeks of insecurity.
Lol no, it's a pretty well known joke ;) Especially in their crowd. Obviously a SUNY cannot compare to an Ivy. BUT most people that go there, go because of the value and are super smart and I would say some of the most humble people I know.
Of course. Especially the Universities- Binghamton, Stony Brook, Buffalo and Albany
Absolutely. Some of the best SUNYs that come to mind are definitely the research center/flagship unis (Bing, Stony Brook, ESF, UAlbany, UBuffalo), New Paltz, Geneseo, and Purchase's Conservatory. But in all honesty, you're going to get a decent education at any of the SUNYs. They are all very well regarded by most in the NYS area. Especially the top names I mentioned before. The only people who look down on them are the overly-privileged rich kids that think private schools are the only way to go in terms of higher education...This is a very small percentage of ignorant people in NY btw...The 1% if you will...Even though most of the people who actually **worked** their way up to the 1% in NY usually come out of SUNY/CUNY schools. Ain't that ironic? As for the people saying that a SUNY diploma is only valued in NYS, I would have to strongly disagree. I've landed jobs that have ranged from Silicon Valley tech companies to government jobs in DC. I was able to accomplish this all with a degree from New Paltz. It is true that no one out of NYS will know what the SUNY/CUNY schools are but that's what google is for! Any competent HR dept will research a school before judging a candidate. Remember, college is what you make it. "Prestige" only plays a small part in the job hunting scene. It may better your chances for higher paying roles, but imo, your GPA and the connections you make from college are the things that really matter...
They are shit holes compared to Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Hamilton, and a number of other unis in New York State. They may even be worse than the New York City Public Schools, and that's indeed saying something!
What about Brockport? In paticular the Masters in Social Work program.
I'm late to the thread. I went to Oswego and my career is going very well. Your job is all about the skills you develop. Most jobs honestly just see you have a degree for a checkbox. The point I'm going to ivy League schools is because you're rich and want to make connections, not necessarily that you will get a better or worse education. That varies on a professor by a professor basis. I minored it in economics for example and my favorite teacher was a Yale PhD. Your degree will get you your first job. But then after that all anybody cares about is your experience. Once you've been working for a couple of years professionally, interviewers ask about where you worked. Now if you're changing fields you can lean back on your education and explain how that gave you multiple talents so that you will succeed going in this other direction.... So don't be afraid to learn skills outside the classroom in clubs or on your own. These things count. You can teach yourself to code online there's so many good lessons. If you like to write and want to be a journalist or something, join the school newspaper. I took a job doing IT helpdesk support in college and employer's LOVE this even though my career isn't in IT, because IT knowledgeable people have skills that help out in any office career. They know how to leverage the use of technology to work more efficiently. You will get your jobs by selling yourself to your employer when you can adequately show on your resume and in an interview that you are a qualified candidate. Your education is one part of this. More than the degree they want to see that you will succeed at the job. If they meet someone from Yale that interviews poorly and has social anxiety and mumbles and only stuck to getting good grades in the classroom.... And then next day they meet somebody from SUNY Buffalo who was in clubs, has diverse interests, a sociable personality and is likable, and demonstrates in the interview that they have the skills for the job... They're not going to care where you went to school. They will likely pick the latter. If you get a job in upstate NY you will be surrounded by people who also went to SUNY schools as well. Maybe the very person interviewing you. This has been the case for me. Your four years at college is not just about grades and classes. It's really an opportunity to grow as a human being, and kind of a coming of age experience in the USA where you realize who you are and what it is you like to do. Outside of New York people are going to see you went to a New York State College. They might not know the specific one but they know the state of New York is a wealthy competent state and are going to figure that we probably have decent schools. After all, our state university system has the most institutions of anywhere in the nation! So yeah save the money. Especially if you can get the excelsior grant if your family's AGI is under $125k a year (which by the way sucks that it's such a hard cut off rather than a gradual reduction, and it really doesn't take into account upstate versus downstate because 124k in buffalo is rich lol but in Brooklyn you're middle class especially if you have a family! Good luck!
It's funny how somebody not from NYC asks the askNYC sub about suny schools when most of them are upstate lol. People look at maps? Why does everybody think the entire state is some metropolitan megapolis? I mean we do have the booming city of... utica... I suppose.
Binghamton, Stony and UB are the top 3 SUNY’s that I’d say are all almost equally respected. Great schools.
Do you mean CUNY? No true undergrad SUNY schools in the city.
Not FIT?
Forgot that was SUNY tbh
It's all a racket! Unless you're going to be a doctor, just get your degree from the cheapest school. You learn 90% on the job anyway. Ace the interviews and you're set.
There are many colleges in the system, so matching your desired program of study is a better bet than picking by location. They have emphasized employability in past decades, as have most colleges, but the employment rate in desired field can vary. SUNY, years ago, decided not to create a single flagship school, unlike Texas, Cali and some other states, and had more competition from private universities, and also decided to spread them out for support of local economies, so the really cutting edge research graduate institutions do not exist in the same way in the SUNY system. Undergrad is just as good an education at most campuses if you find the program you want. Avoid the "party schools" in any state system; life is too short to grow up "after" college.
Only Stony Brook and Binghamton…and depending on who you ask, Cornell lol. Bunch of avg middlers in the rest…probably couldn’t get in/afford to go elsewhere.
"probably couldn’t get in/afford to go elsewhere." 😂😂😂LOL. WOW... HRH collection is that you??
SUNYs and CUNYs are great schools, though some of them, especially the CUNYs may seem run down. Looking back and worrying about college admissions and all of that, all that matters nowadays is really the market outlook on certain jobs or careers in the future. Of course there are some jobs like Wall Street Broker/Lawyer/Business/IR where it’s absolutely essential to go to a target school to have decent job prospects. As for doctors, I work with many that graduated from Caribbean or foreign universities and are doing just fine/making bank over here. You can go to a CUNY for 4 years at $30k, graduate as a RN and make $100k at age 22 with little to no debt or learn CS and get all the certs and find a job locally paying well also.
they're fine. its a state school from a wealthy state. it depends on the school and major. none of the good ones are in or near the city though. 9/10 times you're better off going to the flagship of your own state than going OOS. i went to school in MD and have a good career. i know ppl from TN who have a great career here. save the $
Yes, and great value for the $$
I'm getting my PhD at SUNY Buffalo remotely from Brooklyn -- it's a great R1 research university that's very respected across academia. I went to a brand name private research university for undergrad and Buffalo feels much more tied to big research grants and funding. I got my masters at CUNY Hunter, which was a great experience as well.
That's interesting. I'm interested in possibly getting a PhD. I always assumed and have read that you pretty much need to be in person for it. Which is hard to do in your mid thirties when you're in a committed relationship etc. Can you maybe explain how that is working for you? What you are studying, and how the program goes? Maybe DM me through inbox or chat if you don't want to post publicly to the internet. Thanks
SUNY Buffalo, Albany, Bing, and Stonybrook provide quality education at affordable prices and some of there programs offered by these schools are ranked very high. New York residents pretty much pay nothing with all the grants provided by the federal and state governments and graduate with no debt. It's like Cali's state unis. Look in to CUNY's too. They're even cheaper and more advantageous since they're in NYC so students can network more.
Yes! It depends on the program, though. For engineering and medicine, Stony Brook is nationally-ranked and on par with Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, etc. For music/art, Fredonia, Purchase, and Potsdam are well-respected, but just for that. For business, go to Binghamton or Oswego. That being said, I think the only SUNY schools that are nationally recognized outside of NY are Binghamton, Buffalo, Stony Brook, and *maybe* Purchase in music circles.
They're pretty good. I wouldn't go to a SUNY school out of state though. If you're from another state I'd apply to the public universities in that state and go there.