Recent Headlines
Princeton Review Names ESF One of the Nation’s Best Colleges for 2026
ESF also Ranked in the Top 10 for Being Green
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Aug. 14, 2025 – The Princeton Review names the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) among the country’s Best 391 Colleges for 2026. ESF was also ranked the No. 4 college for being environmentally conscious and among the best colleges in the Northeast, and No. 6 in Green Matters: Everyone Cares about Conservation.
“It’s an honor to be named one of the best colleges—and even more meaningful to be recognized for our commitment to the environment,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Caring for the planet is at the core of everything we do at ESF, and this ranking reflects the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. We’re proud to see that passion recognized.”
The Best 391 Colleges list is comprised based on data submitted by colleges and surveys from 170,000 students who are asked about their school’s academics/administration, life at their college, their fellow students, and themselves.
ESF students describe the College as focused yet broad, covering "seemingly every topic of environmentalism" across 27 undergraduate programs in fields such as aquatic and fisheries science, chemical engineering, conservation biology, and environmental resources engineering, according to The Princeton Review.
ESF's professors "are all current or previous researchers and are experts in their field" and are "very passionate about the subjects they teach." Explains one student, "This school offers tons of super specific upper division courses in each of the fields ... and in lectures, the professors always bring in examples of research they have done or are currently doing to make the concepts more reachable."
The Green Matters ranking is based on students’ answers to survey questions, including how they rate administration and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts.
The Best Northeast list is compiled based on institutions deemed academically outstanding.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.