image: Students spening time on the quad at Binghamton University
Credit: Jonathan Cohen
Binghamton University has earned a spot on one of Forbes’ most prestigious rankings for the first time. This year marks the University’s debut on Forbes’ Top 25 Public Colleges in the United States – where it is the only New York state institution to be featured.
Forbes’ list explores the top public institutions for higher learning based on its annual “America’s Top Colleges” ranking, which placed Binghamton University as the top-ranked SUNY school and the 68th best college nationally. Forbes chose its 25 top public colleges based on several factors from the 2023-2024 academic year, including alumni salaries, academic outcomes and return on investment. This ranking places Binghamton University among several other esteemed institutions across the nation, such as the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
“This recognition reflects our commitment to academic excellence, student success and meaningful outcomes,” said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. “Being singled out in this elite group highlights the hard work of our faculty, the drive of our students and the support of all our alumni. Binghamton University has a truly unique role in advancing opportunity and education in New York state, and we’re proud to be on the forefront.”
Forbes wrote: “New to the list this year, the school’s acceptance rate is just above 37%...The school is recognized for its research offerings, including into topics like clean energy and battery technology.”
“As the flagship public university in our region, we are proud of this acknowledgement to continue raising our standards, deepening our impact, and offering transformative experiences through education – resulting in alumni who go out into the world and create positive change,” said Binghamton University Provost Donald Hall.
Forbes also notes that the average Binghamton University student leaves with relatively low average debt ($7,653) and has high earning potential as they move on to their career ($141,200 median 20-year salary).
Visit the Binghamton University accolades page for more information on rankings and awards.