SBU Soars to 62nd Overall, 23rd Among Public Universities in Forbes’ Top College Rankings

Stony Brook University has been ranked 62nd overall and 23rd among public universities in the Forbes 2021 America’s Top Colleges rankings, which were released today.
Stony Brook rose significantly since the 2019 rankings, Forbes‘ last since taking a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stony Brook jumped up 114 places in the overall rankings and 26 places among public universities.
According to the methodology, rankings were based on a number of weighted factors, including alumni salary (20%), debt (15%), return on investment (15%), graduation rate (15%), and the Forbes American Leaders list (15%). Read the full methodology here.
Forbes noted that it spent the pandemic year rethinking the way it evaluates the country’s top schools, and as a result, lower-cost public universities surged in the rankings, grabbing six of the top 25 spots. Forbes put the list together in consultation with higher ed consultant Michael Itzkowitz.
Earlier this year, Forbes ranked Stony Brook seventh among Best Employers for Women, and placed it among the Best Employers for Diversity. Stony Brook was also ranked 39th among all U.S. universities in the 2021 QS US University Rankings, moving up from No. 45 last year.