SUNY Oswego climbed 15 spots to #39 in U.S. News and World Report’s “2024 Best Regional Universities in the North,” according to the publication released on September 18, 2023.

The university ranks among the top 15 in public colleges in the region, which includes public and private colleges throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

For its ability to empower students to brighter futures, especially first-generation students, Oswego ranks #18 (up one spot) in the North in the Social Mobility rankings.

“The Oswego promise is about providing high-quality access to education, transforming lives and igniting possibilities, and this kind of recognition reflects the opportunities, support and value we provide students and families,” said SUNY Oswego President Peter O. Nwosu. “Our students are outstanding, and our faculty and staff deliver on the promise every day.” 

SUNY Oswego also continues its place among the Best Value Schools in the North, recognizing its strong academics and student preparation at the more affordable SUNY prices.

Oswego’s support of veterans and active military members continues to earn recognition, with the university moving up to #18 (up one slot) regionally in the Best for Veterans category. This complements several honors SUNY Oswego has received as a military-friendly and veteran-friendly college from national magazines and ratings services.

In addition, Oswego appears on the national U.S. News rankings for Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs, non-doctorate; Top Computer Science Schools; and Top Undergraduate Business Programs; as well as among best in the North for Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Rankings improvements

The latest U.S. News rankings reflect a greater emphasis on access and outcomes, and less on exclusivity and other factors that proved more favorable to elite private colleges.

“This year's methodology does a better job reflecting the very good work that SUNY Oswego and many of our public peers across SUNY and CUNY are doing and have been doing for a very long time,” Nwosu said. “Some would say that marks an improvement on how relevant the lists are, but the higher ranking would not happen if SUNY Oswego wasn’t continuously improving upon our track record of success.”

The latest U.S. News rankings evaluated around 1,500 U.S. four-year bachelor's degree-granting institutions on as many as 19 measures.