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U.S. News and World Report Ranks SUNY ESF As Top 5 Public School for Northern Region
ESF ranks No. 5 among Top Public Schools and No. 5 Best In-State Value in the Regional Universities (North)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sept. 22, 2026 – U.S. News and World Report announced today that the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) ranks fifth in Public Universities and fifth for Best Value In-State in the Report's Northern region.
ESF's ranking as the No. 5 Top Public School among Regional Universities in the North underscores the quality of ESF’s academic programs and student experience. Its No. 5 Best Value In-State ranking highlights the exceptional return on investment ESF provides to New York students and families through a combination of educational quality and affordability.
“This U.S. News and World Report recognition reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. I am proud to see U.S. News rankings highlight what we know to be true about how special our campus, our faculty and our students truly are," said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “ESF provides a unique, technical STEM-focused learning experience. We do this at great value to our students, who benefit from SUNY’s very affordable system-wide tuition of $7,070. To be ranked among the top public universities and best values in our region demonstrates to our future students that they will receive a great education at a great value when they enroll at ESF.”
ESF is SUNY’s premier public environmental college, offering students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research, fieldwork, and experience-based learning. As part of the nation’s largest university system, the College's programs span environmental science, engineering, sustainability, conservation, landscape architecture, renewable materials, policy, and natural resource management, all grounded in a mission to improve the environment and strengthen communities.
“Students today want an education that combines academic rigor with purpose,” said Lindi Quackenbush, provost and chief academic officer. “ESF provides an educational experience unlike any other. Our students learn in forests, laboratories, design studios, and communities. They work closely with faculty who are leaders in their fields and graduate with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to address some of society's most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges. These rankings are a recognition of the excellence and dedication that define our academic community.”
“These rankings affirm ESF's reputation as a top choice for students seeking a high-quality, affordable education with real-world impact,” said Chris Tacea, interim director of enrollment management and marketing. “Our students graduate with the knowledge, experience, and purpose to lead in environmental fields and make a difference in their communities and beyond.”
Today’s U.S. News rankings arrive as ESF continues to expand its impact through groundbreaking research, innovative academic programs, strategic partnerships, and a growing reputation for producing graduates who are highly sought after by employers and graduate schools.
The College's placements at No. 5 among Public Universities in the Northern region further reinforces its standing as a distinctive institution that delivers highly specialized, mission-driven education while competing with larger and more broadly focused universities across the region.
“Students come to ESF because they want to build careers that matter,” Mahoney said. “Whether they're restoring ecosystems, designing sustainable communities, developing renewable materials, protecting natural resources, or advancing environmental justice, our graduates leave ESF ready to lead. These rankings affirm the value of an ESF education and the transformative experience our students receive.”
To learn more about ESF’s academic programs, visit www.esf.edu/academics/.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF’s Mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to Improve Our World. ESF’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF’s tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and has a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction. To learn more, visit suny.edu.