SUNY Canton retains Top 10 placement on U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Colleges’ List – North Country Now

CANTON – SUNY Canton has maintained its highest-ever scores from U.S. News and World Report in the 2025 Best Colleges edition, according to standings released Monday, Sept 24. 

The college was placed 9th in the Regional Colleges (North) list for the second year in a row, one spot ahead of two of its closest competitors from the State University of New York Technology colleges, SUNY Cobleskill and Alfred State College. SUNY Canton also placed 6th in the Best Value Schools-Regional Colleges (North) list. 

“SUNY Canton continues to maintain its highest U.S. News & World Report rankings in 2025,” said College President Zvi Szafran. “These rankings affirm what we’ve always known: SUNY Canton is a place where students can thrive, succeed, and prepare for the future.”

It appeared 14th on the Top Performers on Social Mobility, as compared to its peer institutions in its region. College administrators noted its robust internship program, backed by SUNY, as a contributor to its student mobility. The initiative began by providing a stipend for students interning on campus. It has since expanded to include local off-campus non-profit organizations and municipalities. 

“This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to accessible and affordable education,” said SUNY Canton Provost Peggy A. De Cooke. “Our faculty and staff have worked diligently to ensure top-tier academic quality and student support in-person and online.” 

Following last year’s rankings, the college received 4th place on the Best Colleges for Veterans List. The citation follows a 6th place ranking on the 2024-2025 annual Military Friendly School list announced in March. 

SUNY Canton is measured alongside public and private colleges in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont that focus on undergraduate education, granting fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

The publication evaluates graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, class sizes, selectivity, and financial resources available for students, among other criteria, to determine the rankings. The college first appeared on the annual list in 2011.

SUNY Canton was also recently noted on Money.com‘s Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs list and Research.com‘s 2024 edition of Best Colleges & Universities.