UAlbany Rises in National Rankings: Powering Excellence and Innovation

Dear UAlbany Community, 

As you may have heard, the University at Albany is rising among the top public colleges in the nation, according to new rankings published by U.S. News and World Report  and the Wall Street Journal. 

The U.S. News and World Report 2024 “Best College Rankings,” published this week, lists UAlbany at No. 70 nationally among public institutions and No. 133 nationally overall, up 48 spots from last year. UAlbany was also again recognized by U.S. News as a top performer in social mobility, within the top 10 percent of all ranked institutions.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal listed UAlbany at No. 40 among public institutions in the new “Best Colleges in the U.S.” rankings, the second highest among SUNY schools, and No. 114 nationally. UAlbany ranked No. 21 nationally for social mobility, the highest among SUNY campuses and the second highest among all New York institutions. 

The University at Albany is committed to offering life-changing opportunities and these new rankings further prove that we are fulfilling that mission.  We are proud to see our University recognized as a powerful engine of opportunity for all students, regardless of background or social status.

The new rankings add to UAlbany’s growing list of national accolades over the last several years, especially in social mobility and educational equity.

As just one example, last month Washington Monthly, which ranks higher education institutions for their contribution to the public good, ranked UAlbany within the top 15 percent (No. 61) of 442 universities in its 2023 “College Guide and Rankings,” the highest among SUNY campuses.   

These accolades come as we welcomed our newest students, UAlbany’s Class of 2027, the second largest first-year class in our history and one of the most diverse, with about 54 percent of approximately 2,865 students coming from historically underrepresented groups.

That same week, we celebrated our historic reunification with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the launch of the College of Nanotechnology, Science and Engineering. We also welcomed 40 new faculty, including 18 who specialize in artificial intelligence - an unprecedented cluster hire - as part of UAlbany’s AI Plus initiative to embed teaching and research about AI across all academic programs.  

The University at Albany is, thanks to all of you, experiencing exceptional momentum, through the collective dedication and enthusiasm of the Great Dane nation. Each of you plays a critical role in making UAlbany extraordinary, and in unleashing the greatness in our students and our community.

As one of our nation’s most diverse R1 institutions, we will seize the opportunities before us and provide a transformative educational experience for every student.

Please join me in celebrating all that makes the University at Albany exceptional, and thank you for all you do.
 

Sincerely,

Havidán Rodríguez
President