Nearly 40% of New York’s residents live on Long Island. Therefore, it makes sense that Long Island has many institutes of higher education to serve the educational needs of the surrounding areas.
Long Island’s many cultural and natural offerings are available to students who attend college there. Long Island also includes Queens and Brooklyn boroughs. There are many vibrant neighborhoods, restaurants, museums, and nightlife.
Students can enjoy the beauty of the South Shore protected wetlands and the sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, even if they are not in the NYC metropolitan area. Rural life is slower in small, peaceful towns.
Long Island’s colleges range from small private institutions of liberal arts-based on faith to large public universities that draw students from all over the world. Students can find a college on Long Island that suits their needs in all areas of the arts, medicine, engineering, and everything in between.
Many Long Island colleges also have highly rated programs by academic ranking publications such as U.S. News & World Report. College Gazette has compiled this list of the top 10 colleges on Long Island to help students decide.
Adelphi University (Garden City, NY)
Adelphi University, Long Island’s #1 college, is also the oldest institution offering bachelor’s and graduate degrees. It also offers doctoral programs. The curriculum is focused on four areas: healthcare, professional studies, and STEM fields. Adelphi’s graduate nursing program is a highlight of the university; It ranks among the best in the country. There are both on-campus as well as online options available.
Adelphi won the prestigious 2020 award of the American Association of University Administrators. The award was given explicitly to the school for its innovative Prep for Success program, which assists students in finding paid internships after graduation and helps them with job placement. In addition to being placed on U.S. News’s list of “best national universities,” Adelphi was also recognized.
SUNY Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY)
SUNY’s mission is simple but bold: To change the world through intellectual discovery and research. There are over 200 majors available, as well as dual-degree programs. Research is integrated into the curriculum. The URECA program (Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities) supports research at the bachelor’s degree level via grants and travel funding.
World University Rankings. According to Q.S, this public university was ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide due to the dedication of its faculty and staff. U.S. News places it among the top 40 public universities in the country.
Despite this, the school’s programs are still relatively affordable. Forbes even listed SUNY among the top 15 most-valued colleges in America.
Long Island University, Brookville, NY
Long Island University offers over 275 programs for students at all levels, including bachelors and doctoral degrees. LIU offers more healthcare professional programs than any other school within the NYC region, making it a popular choice for students studying nursing, pharmacy, or health sciences.
LIU is also known for its music and theatre programs because of its proximity to New York City’s art centers. It offers degrees in technology, music production, and even music entrepreneurship.
Brookville’s LIU-Post campus has a low student-to-faculty ratio, at just 10:1. It’s not surprising that LIU is on so many “best-of” lists every year. The Princeton Review ranks it as one of the top northeastern regional colleges. The U.S. News and World Report rank it among the best national universities.
Webb Institute (Glen Cove, NY)
The Webb Institute, unlike the other top 10 schools, is devoted solely to one field of study: naval engineering. This niche focus allows the faculty to concentrate on helping students excel in this field. The only degree offered at the Webb Institute is a dual bachelor of science in marine engineering and naval architecture.
This rigorous curriculum teaches students marine, electrical and civil engineering. It also includes authentic hands-on experiences.
Additionally, all U.S. citizens are eligible for a full-tuition scholarship. According to Payscale.com, these make Webb an affordable choice and place it among the top 10 most-valued colleges, according to Payscale.com.
Of graduates who leave Webb, 100% find work.
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Hofstra University is an independent college that offers bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in business, education, law, health sciences, and other fields. Students who are interested in pursuing niche careers can also find specialized programs.
Hofstra’s educational model is based on three fundamental principles: collaboration, participation, and investigation. Students are encouraged to be curious and collaborate with other students on research projects. Students are encouraged and supported to participate in campus activities and be active in their education.
Hofstra is included in many ranking lists, including U.S. News’s best national universities, best veterans college, and most value schools. Several individual programs are also nationally-ranked, such as the U.S. News’s list of best national universities, best colleges for veterans, and best value schools. For example, the undergraduate engineering program is ranked #33 in the United States.
SUNY Old Westbury (Old Westbury, NY)
The SUNY Old Westbury campus has almost 60 bachelor’s or master’s degree programs. The core Liberal Education Curriculum is required for all undergraduates. This curriculum provides a broad understanding of the world through courses on diversity, American culture, history, and social sciences.
The First-Year Experiment Program offers exceptional support to first-year students. This program is designed to help students develop study skills and time management skills that will allow them to succeed at college. Upper-level students and first-year students alike can apply to the Honors College. This group is a highly talented group of students that can benefit from advanced academic classes.
U.S. News and World Report rank SUNY Old Westbury #50-62 on a list of top public schools. It’s also the #7 school that promotes social mobility among students.
Molloy College (Rockville Center, NY)
According to U.S. News, Molloy College is the 26th-ranked regional university in North America. It offers programs in liberal arts and sciences. The institution, which is Catholic-based, has small classes and a low student-to-faculty ratio.
Molloy also offers online and blended programs that enable students to balance their professional and personal lives while earning a flexible degree. Molloy provides tuition discounts for law enforcement officers and first responders, even though all programs are affordable.
Molloy College offers both undergraduate and doctoral degree options. However, the school has been mainly focused on growing its graduate programs over the past ten years. Molloy’s graduate student population has increased by 64% in the last ten years.
New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY
The New York Institute of Technology has a campus on Long Island and the New York Institute of Technology’s New York City campus. The campus is located on the historic North Shore and is one of the most secure in the country.
Over 90 technology-focused areas of study are available to students, including engineering and cybersecurity, and healthcare. NYIT also offers degrees not offered by other Long Island schools, such as supply chain management, energy management, and computational architecture technologies. The programs are designed to help students with an entrepreneurial spirit and who are “doers.”
U.S. U.S. News ranks NYIY #34 on its list of top regional universities in the north. It’s also rated the #15 best college to vets and the #56 most value-oriented school.
Five Towns College (Dix Hills, NY)
Five Towns College, a private school, offers undergraduate and graduate programs and doctoral degrees in creative fields such as music, film, computer graphics, and audio recording. Students can also choose to specialize in music management or business administration.
Students can find challenging, hands-on courses and experienced faculty just an hour away from New York City. They are ready to help students realize their creative potential. Students can also connect with potential employers through Career Services.
U.S. U.S. News ranks Five Towns College at #41-#53 in its list of the top regional colleges in the northern region. The college is also ranked #16 in social mobility, reflecting the number of economically disadvantaged students who graduate from the institution.
Saint Joseph’s College (Patchogue, NY)
Saint Joseph’s College has Long Island and Brooklyn campuses near Patchogue. This private school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in liberal arts, sciences, and health administration. SJC also provides online programs.
The school also tries to keep tuition costs low. Tuition rates are about $8,600 lower than the average four-year private college. In 2019-2020, 84% of students received financial aid.
Saint Joseph’s faculty is dedicated to helping students succeed. These can be seen in the school’s higher retention rates than national averages. Because of the success of its students, SJC frequently appears on U.S. News and World Report’s “best of” lists. It was ranked the #71 regional university north. It is also the #39. The best college for veterans.
