Higher Education: Capital Region Schools Among Best In US

Three of the Capital Region's most respected institutions are among the best in the United States.

When someone asks you about the great benefits of living in the Capital Region, I am 99% sure our great schools are always at the top of the list. That not only applies to public school systems, but also to the many great colleges and universities in the area. From Kindergarten right through higher education, we have access to great schools right at our doorstep. Several of those institutions of higher learning have been recognized as some of the best of the best in the United States.

US News and World Report released their 2021 rankings of the best institutions for higher education in the nation, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy landed at #53 on the list of the Best National Universities, tied with Purdue University in Indiana. On the top liberal colleges list, Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs landed at number 36, and Union College in Schenectady is ranked at number 44. US News ranks the schools based on an "academic quality" scoring system in areas like student-faculty ratio, financial aid programs, tuition, campus life, and more.

Several other New York state colleges and universities were honored as well, including Cornell, NYU, Syracuse, Colgate, Vassar, and more. You can see the full US News and World Report rankings here.

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