SUNY Oneonta is among 735 colleges and universities across the country named to Money’s “Best Colleges in America 2026” list.
This is the third year that SUNY Oneonta received a 4.5-star rating, and the university is one of only five State University of New York schools to earn 4.5 stars on the 2026 list.
After years of presenting numerical rankings, Money switched in 2023 to a five-star rating system highlighting schools “where your tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.” To create its list and “help families make informed decisions about where to spend their tuition dollars,” Money analyzes dozens of data points related to educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
In its profile page on the Money.com website, SUNY Oneonta was recognized for its “commitment to providing a quality education at an affordable price,” and specifically, for its work as a new member of the American Talent Initiative to enroll, support and graduate low-income students.
Money highlighted SUNY Oneonta’s distinctive undergraduate majors (including Dietetics, Art and Design, Fashion and Textiles, Meteorology and Music Industry), emphasized the university’s affordability (with the net price of a degree being “significantly lower than the average of all the schools Money evaluated”), and mentioned the “college-town vibe” and beauty of the surrounding area. College Camp, with its abundance of recreational activities and one of the state’s largest optical telescopes, got a special shoutout.
This ringing endorsement is more relevant than ever, as we navigate times of increasing costs of living and scrutiny surrounding the worth of a college degree.
“We’re proud to once again be recognized as one of Money’s Best Colleges in America,” said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. “This ringing endorsement is more relevant than ever, as we navigate times of increasing costs of living and scrutiny surrounding the worth of a college degree. Our excellent graduation rates, extensive experiential learning opportunities, investment in scholarships and successful alumni are points of pride. The ranking we’ve earned is proof of the commitment and passion that our faculty and staff have for making a low-cost, high-quality college education accessible for all.”
SUNY Oneonta is committed to making college affordable through renewable merit- and need-based scholarships for new first-year and transfer students. In 2025-26, SUNY Oneonta awarded more than $9.4 million in scholarships, and 91% of first-year students and 95% of transfers received financial assistance.
That support extends throughout a student’s time at Oneonta, with a variety of additional grants and scholarships available for valuable experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad, faculty-led trips, internships and research, and a Student Emergency Fund that provides grants for students experiencing unexpected financial challenges. In 2025-26, the university awarded more than $500,000 in grants for students pursuing internships and another $195,000 for travel to professional conferences, workshops and competitions.