UAlbany Ranked No. 1 SUNY School in Washington Monthly Report

By Laci Votraw | September 15, 2025

UAlbany banners hanging from a building on the downtown campus. 

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons 

The University at Albany was ranked the top SUNY school by Washington Monthly, which evaluates colleges on accessibility, affordability, academic outcomes and public service, according to a university press release. 

UAlbany was ranked first among SUNY schools, seventh in New York State, and 78th in the nation in the magazine’s report, which reviewed more than 1,400 colleges. UAlbany was also ranked 39th in 2025 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Northeast.  

The Washington Monthly’s rankings emphasize affordability— almost 80% of UAlbany undergraduate students apply for financial aid, and around 60% receive grants or scholarships that they don’t need to pay back, according to the university. 

Students shared positive reactions upon learning about these rankings. 

“I think it is amazing that UAlbany is ranked first among SUNY schools,” said Shainah Salomon, a junior transfer student. “It highlights the strong opportunities here, and I am glad to be a part of it.”

UAlbany also promotes community service opportunities through its Community and Public Service Program (CPSP). The program has been in place for 50 years, and students can access a variety of programs on the university website. Additionally, the program will hold a service fair in March, where more than 50 organizations will be represented. .  

UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez said that the ranking would serve as an “engine of opportunity for our students and a force for public good.” He said that UAlbany is demonstrating its excellence through its support for student success, its contribution to challenges in society using its research and its role as a “community anchor.”

Michelle Colwell, a junior criminal justice major, shared similar opinions, agreeing about the opportunities UAlbany provides.

“This ranking reflects that the community is strong,” Colwell said, “and the opportunities are real.”