Binghamton named top SUNY university center in new TIME ranking

A ranking by TIME that examines the top colleges in America and places heavy emphasis on student outcomes post-graduation is giving high praise to Binghamton University.

The inaugural America’s Best Colleges for 2026-2027 list scored 500 colleges and universities in the United States. Binghamton University was ranked the #20 public university in the nation. Overall, looking at both public and private institutions nationally, Binghamton ranked #58, which was the highest rank of the four SUNY centers (#115 Buffalo, #123 Stony Brook, #134 Albany).

Binghamton’s student outcomes score, which represents the largest percentage of an institution’s total score, was also the highest among the four SUNY centers. When evaluating student outcome scores, TIME considered the value students gained by attending the institutions through metrics like graduate earnings, graduation rates, and the financial return on education relative to its cost.

“Binghamton University is extraordinarily proud of its record of preparing students for engaging and rewarding careers and comprehensive success throughout their lives after college,” said President Anne D’Alleva. “The new rankings from TIME provide additional proof of what those of us in the Binghamton community see directly each day – our tremendous faculty and staff put students first and create an environment that supports their holistic development as individuals.”

In addition to student outcomes, the remainder of each school’s score was determined by its learning environment and attractiveness. Student-to-faculty ratio, student/faculty diversity, and core expenditure per student were key facets of the learning environment score. For an institution’s attractiveness score, the ranking looked at a school’s student admission rate combined with how many of those accepted students also chose to attend the university that accepted them.

“So many of today’s prospective college students and their families are concerned about the value of higher education, which is weighted strongly in these rankings and reflects the University’s strengths in shaping students into confident and capable adults,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Hall. “In addition to student outcomes, this study also examined selectivity and the learning environment. Binghamton students have incredible access to their faculty and opportunities to do hands-on research and scholarship early in their academic careers, factors that truly distinguish the University as one of the best public institutions in the nation.”  

TIME’s full ranking and methodology can be found on their website. This placement joins a series of strong rankings this fall for Binghamton University, including being named a top 20 public university by Forbes, continued placement among U.S. News & World Report’s top 50 public universities in the nation, and the distinction of top SUNY institution for value and career placement by Princeton Review.

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