SUNY Old Westbury’s commitment to the creation of opportunities and empowerment of all is reflected in Newsweek and Gender Fair’s inaugural “America's Best Colleges for Women 2026.”
The university was ranked 143, one of only two SUNY campuses to earn a place in the top 150 colleges out of more than 1,200 colleges and universities nationwide. Based on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and Campus Safety and Security Database, the list focused on four key measurements: leadership, pay and policies, safety and opportunity. The metrics come from the “Women’s Empowerment Principles,” which were established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact in support of the gender equality dimensions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Achieving this ranking is an important honor and demonstrates the core values of access and inclusivity within our mission,” said university President Timothy Sams. “There is a place for everyone at SUNY Old Westbury as these values are reflected in our abiding commitment to excellence, equity and justice, whereby every person thrives and feels ownership of our vibrant community."
The leadership score analyzes the proportion of women in academic and leadership roles. The pay and policies measurement uses the ratio of men’s to women’s pay among faculty and staff in academic roles, the average women’s pay and the presence of daycare on campus to create a score. The safety category measures crime rates against women and hate crimes. The opportunity score is based on diversity on campus, specifically looking at the proportion of students receiving PELL grants and those who are non-white educators.
The list also includes a “state’s reproductive status” adjacent to each college using data gathered from the Center of Reproductive Rights as a representation of how access to health care may be impacted by state laws.
The list was generated by focusing on colleges who have at least 20 women employed in academic roles and have a student population of 1,000 students or more. The colleges on the list must also award bachelor’s degrees as part of the criteria.