Long Island’s top colleges ranked in new report; USMMA is No. 1

Several Long Island colleges appear on Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges in America rankings for New York state, which cover more than 4,000 colleges nationwide and incorporate such measures as academics, student life and value.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point is the highest-ranked Long Island institution, coming in No. 13 in New York state. It is also the third-highest ranked public college in the state, according to the report released on Monday.

Niche develops its rankings using publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education, combined with reviews and surveys from students and alumni.

Long Island colleges ranked in New York state

1. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point
   • New York state rank: No. 13
   • Niche grade: A-
2. Stony Brook University
   • New York state rank: No. 15
   • Niche grade: A-
3. Molloy University, Rockville Centre
   • New York state rank: No. 26
   • Niche grade: B+
4. SUNY Farmingdale
   • New York state rank: No. 32
   • Niche grade: B
5. Hofstra University, Hempstead
   • New York state rank: No. 43
   • Niche grade: B
6. Adelphi University, Garden City
   • New York state rank: No. 51
   • Niche grade: B
7. New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury
   • New York state rank: No. 54
   • Niche grade: B

The following Long Island colleges did not receive a statewide ranking:

• Long Island University – Niche grade: B-
• St. Joseph’s University – Long Island – Niche grade: B-
  • Note: St. Joseph’s Brooklyn campus ranked No. 37 in New York state
• SUNY Old Westbury – Niche grade: C+
• Five Towns College – Niche grade: C

Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said, “Our rankings are designed to reflect not just data, but the real voices and lived experiences of students across the country.”

Niche’s top five colleges in the country

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Yale University – New Haven, Connecticut
• Stanford University – Stanford, California
• Harvard University – Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Dartmouth College – Hanover, New Hampshire

_{Top photo: Facebook}