SUNY Oneonta Ranks No. 2 on U.S. News “Best Value” List

SUNY Oneonta ranks No. 2 for “Best Value In-State” and No. 10 for “Undergraduate Teaching” among regional universities in the North, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2027 rankings of “Best Colleges,” released Sept. 22.

Overall, SUNY Oneonta ranks No. 11 for top public schools in the North, No. 29 among all regional universities in the North, No. 30 in “Best Value Schools” and No. 58 for “Top Performers on Social Mobility.”

“SUNY Oneonta is committed to making a college education—and the opportunity to succeed after graduation—affordable and accessible to students from every economic background,” said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. “This recognition for undergraduate teaching reflects the extraordinary talent and dedication of our faculty, who ensure that every student is known, engaged and supported as they build the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference after graduation.”

Access and Opportunity

As part of the State University of New York system, SUNY Oneonta has one of the lowest in-state tuition rates in the nation. With its strong institutional commitment to access, affordability and opportunity, SUNY Oneonta builds on this position, with:

• fixed housing rates for each entering class;
• $9.4 million in merit- and need-based scholarships awarded last year;
• more than $700,000 awarded last year in student grants to support internships, research, and travel to professional conferences, workshops and networking events;
• additional financial grants and support resources for students enrolled in three special admissions programs: the New York State Educational Opportunity Program, the federal College Assistance Migrant Program, and SUNY Oneonta’s Aspire program for first-generation students; and
• a Student Emergency Fund that makes available up to $50,000 each year in grants for students facing unexpected expenses that could affect their ability to stay in school.

Teaching Excellence

With an average class size of 21 and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, SUNY Oneonta strives to create an atmosphere where students are personally known and actively engaged by their faculty. 

“Our faculty are frequently recognized for excellence in teaching, scholarship and service,” said SUNY Oneonta Provost Enrique Morales-Diaz. “They receive support through our Faculty Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, which fosters community and a culture of collaboration and innovation.”

SUNY Oneonta guarantees that every student will have access to at least one high-impact experiential learning opportunity, whether that’s an internship, research project, creative activity or study-away field course. Faculty are an integral part of this promise – designing classes that include field-based learning activities; inviting students to participate in their own research and serving as mentors for independent research projects that students design; performing or working alongside students in music ensembles and service-learning activities; and helping students find internships through their alumni, industry and community connections. 

Every year, faculty take small groups of students on a variety of short, immersive field trips across the U.S. and abroad. Whether it’s a Music Department trip to the National Association of Music Merchants annual expo in California, a geology field course in Death Valley, or the Art Department’s documentary photography course abroad, students form deep connections with their professors and peers.