These are New York's top 10 colleges, according to TIME

Columbia University and Cornell University ranked among the nation's best colleges in TIME Magazine's Best Colleges rankings, released last month.

TIME partnered with data research firm Statista for its inaugural report of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027, which ranked colleges that "excel at student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students," according to the publication.

Schools with historically strong STEM programs ranked high on the list, including the top two universities: Stanford University (No. 1), known for its startup culture and connection to Silicon Valley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (No. 2), a patent powerhouse, according to TIME.

New York's highest-ranked university, Columbia University

in New York City, is best known for its Core Curriculum and strength in the humanities and social sciences, including its graduate programs in journalism, business, law and international affairs, according to Oriel Admissions.

Cornell University in Ithaca is known for its focus on engineering, agriculture and life sciences, as well as hotel administration. Although Cornell, like Columbia, is an Ivy League school, some of its colleges are state-supported contract colleges, which offer lower tuition to New York residents. Other Cornell colleges are endowed and rely on private support, according to the university.

Top 10 colleges in NY

The following 10 schools are among the best in New York state, according to TIME, along with how each university ranked nationwide:

1. Columbia University — No. 8 nationally
2. Cornell University — No. 13 nationally
3. CUNY Lehman College — No. 36 nationally
4. CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College — No. 47 nationally
5. Fashion Institute of Technology — No. 51 nationally
6. Binghamton University (SUNY) — No. 58 nationally
7. Colgate University — No. 65 nationally
8. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice — No. 67 nationally
9. SUNY Maritime College — No. 78 nationally
10. Molloy University — No. 85 nationally

Top 10 Colleges in nation according to TIME

1. Stanford University in California
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Massachusetts
3. Harvey Mudd College in California
4. Princeton University in New Jersey
5. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in Michigan
6. California Institute of Technology in California
7. University of Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania
8. Columbia University in New York
9. Claremont McKenna College in California
10. Harvard University in Massachusetts

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: These are New York's top 10 colleges, according to TIME