New Paltz ranks 6th in Northeast in U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best College’s Guidebook

The State University of New York at New Paltz ranked 6th among best public regional universities in New England and the Mid-Atlantic with both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. New Paltz also ranked 33rd among public and private regional universities in New England and the Mid-Atlantic with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

New Paltz rose in two critical categories used in the rankings – average first-year student retention rates and six-year graduation rates.

New Paltz’s average first-year retention rate is 88 percent, increased from 87 percent in the 2013 rankings. The six-year graduation rate is 73 percent, up from 69 percent in the 2013 rankings and 68 percent in the 2012 rankings.

“We are pleased to see our increasing graduation rates, well above national averages, recognized in these rankings,” said L. David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management at New Paltz. “The high peer assessment reflects our growing reputation as a well-regarded public university in the Northeast.”

The rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 America’s Best Colleges Guidebook, which will be published in the magazine’s Sept. 24 issue. They are also posted on the U.S. News & World Report’s website at http://www.usnews.com.

“As we continue to work with Governor Cuomo to position SUNY and New York to lead in affordability, access, and quality, and President Obama puts these issues into focus nationally, we are proud to be recognized and ranked favorably by U.S. News & World Report,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Congratulations to New Paltz and the many campuses representing SUNY on this list.”

The annual rankings, in which U.S. News & World Report categorizes schools based on criteria created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, provide a resource for parents and students contemplating entering the competitive world of higher education. The guide looks at how schools stack up based on widely accepted indicators of excellence, including quality of the incoming class, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, retention rates, graduation rates, and student/faculty ratio.

Additionally, New Paltz is included among a listing of regional universities that admit a meaningful proportion of applications whose test scores put them in non-“A” territory.” Of the 13 public regional universities on the “A+ Schools for B Students” list, New Paltz exceeded all but one in the percentage of first-year students in the top 25% of their high school class, reflecting the College’s dual commitments to high academic standards and a broad, engaged student body.

For the 24th consecutive year, New Paltz has led all SUNY university colleges in total applications received, total freshmen applications and total transfer applications. With an acceptance rate of 44 percent for first-year students, New Paltz remains one of the most selective universities in the Northeast.

Earlier this year, Affordable Colleges Online ranked New Paltz No. 2 in its list of “Top 50 Affordable Colleges with a High ROI,” a list of the nation’s most affordable colleges with the biggest return on investment (ROI); and The College Database selected New Paltz for inclusion in its “Top 50 public colleges and universities for best lifetime degree value,” a list of the nation’s college’s with the greatest lifetime return on investment (ROI). New Paltz ranked No. 5 and was one of only three SUNY campuses included in this national ranking, and the only one in the top 10.