Several New York City colleges and universities were recently recognized in TIME magazine’s inaugural ranking of America’s Best Colleges for 2026-2027, with Columbia University leading the way as the highest-ranked institution in the city.
The ranking, developed by TIME in partnership with data research firm Statista, evaluated 500 colleges across the country based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to prospective students.
Columbia University placed eighth nationally with an overall score of 91.62 out of 100, making it the only New York City institution to break into the top 10. The institution earned particularly high marks for its learning environment and appeal to prospective students.
Several other New York schools also ranked among the nation’s highest-performing colleges. Cornell University came in at No. 13, while the Fashion Institute of Technology placed No. 51, and Binghamton University ranked No. 58.
New York University, one of the city’s largest private universities, ranked No. 88 nationally. Barnard College also appeared in the top 100, coming in at No. 94.
The ranking also highlighted several campuses within the City University of New York system. Lehman College was the highest-ranked CUNY institution at No. 36, followed by Baruch College at No. 47 and John Jay College of Criminal Justice at No. 67.
Brooklyn College, The City College of New York, Hunter College, York College and Queens College also earned spots on the list.
CUNY University officials noted that Baruch and Lehman performed particularly well in the ranking’s student outcomes category, which considers factors such as graduates’ earnings, graduation rates and the time it takes students to offset the cost of their degree.
The ranking arrives as prospective students and families increasingly weigh factors such as affordability, career outcomes and return on investment when choosing where to attend college.
TIME said its methodology was designed to highlight institutions that provide strong academic experiences while helping graduates succeed after earning their degree.