SUNY Old Westbury has been named among the Top 20 public liberal arts colleges in America by U.S. News & World Report in its “2027 America’s Best Colleges” ranking.
The University ranked 18th among “Top Public National Liberal Arts Colleges" in the news outlet’s annual evaluation of nearly 1,500 American colleges and universities based on academics, quality, student success and other measures.
“Behind every ranking is a story of student success, dedicated educators, and a community that works together to create opportunities,” said SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams. “Students and families who choose SUNY Old Westbury can be assured they are selecting a campus that prepares students to thrive both on campus and in life.”
With its long history of affordability and its commitment to offering opportunities for students from all walks of life, the campus’ success in the U.S. News rankings is just the latest third-party recognition to have been announced. Other such recognitions include:
- Money magazine recognized SUNY Old Westbury among the "2026 Best Colleges in America," marking the seventh time the University has been recognized.
- The University was also named in the top 15 percent of more than 1,200 campuses nationwide in Newsweek and Gender Fair’s inaugural “America's Best Colleges for Women” rankings, released earlier this year.
- SUNY Old Westbury was one of only 61 institutions across the nation to receive the 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Academia magazine, the ninth consecutive year the University has earned this honor.
- The campus ranked #84 among nearly 400 colleges and universities in the Northeast in Washington Monthly's 2026 "Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars" and was the only SUNY institution included in the outlet's ranking of the 100 "America's Best Hispanic Serving Institutions," coming in at #92.
“SUNY Old Westbury offers a supportive learning environment where students can reach their full potential,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing Bryan Terry. “Our student-focused learning environment ensures that graduates leave with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed for long-term success.”
According to U.S. News & World Report, rankings for National Liberal Arts Colleges are based on factors including graduation and retention rates, post-graduate earnings, affordability, faculty resources, and peer assessments of teaching and innovation. Among these, student outcomes carry the most weight, highlighting Hendrix’s effectiveness in preparing graduates for life after college.