Accolades

Wide exterior view of Old Main during the spring

Our campus community members know that SUNY Cortland is one of the best, all-around educational institutions in the nation. But don’t take their word for it.

Below are the university’s most recent accolades and awards from a variety of organizations and publications.

Overall excellence

#17

17th in Top Public Universities in the North and 49th overall for Regional Universities in the North according to the U.S. News.

(US News & World Report, 2025)

Top 10%

In the top 10% of the nation’s best colleges and #25 in NY State according to 2025 College Factual rankings – positioning SUNY Cortland as the #1 of our peer SUNY comprehensive colleges.

(College Factual National, 2025)
(College Factual State, 2025) (Cortland News)

#27

Ranked 27th nationally for Best Colleges for Veterans by US New in 2022.

(Cortland News)

#45

Washington Monthly rated Cortland as 45th overall on its national 2023 Master’s University Rankings and at 75th on its 2023 Best Bang for the Buck: Northeast list.

(Cortland News)

Childhood education.jpg

Teacher Education

SUNY Cortland is the largest teacher education program among public universities in New York state.

No. 3 in the U.S. on the list of “Best Bachelor’s in Special Education Degree Programs.”
(Best Accredited Colleges) (Cortland News)

No. 4 in both the Top Online M.Ed. Programs in New York and the Most Affordable Online M.Ed. Programs in New York according to TeacherCertificationDegrees.com, a peer-reviewed education resource. (Cortland News)

3.2%

(No. 12) Top 3.2% nationally ranked bachelor’s degree in subject specific education, #1 SUNY.
(College Factual, 2025) (Cortland News)

(No. 16) Top 3% nationally ranked Health & Physical Education degree.
(College Factual, 2025) (Cortland News)

4.5%

(No. 30) Top 4.5% nationally ranked bachelor’s degree in education, #1 SUNY.
(College Factual, 2025) (Cortland News)

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All Academics

No. 4 on the list of “Best Criminology Schools in New York according to College Factual. (Cortland News)

#14

No. 14 ranked online university in New York based on cost, student success and reputation, according to Intelligent.com. (Cortland News)

3.5%

(No. 18) Top 3.5% nationally ranked Parks, Recreation, & Leisure degree.
(College Factual, 2025)

(No. 25) Top 5% nationally for our sport management program.
(Niche, 2025) (Cortland News)

28.6%

28.6% Best nationally ranked Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor’s Degree Schools.
(College Factual, 2025)

35%

Top 35% Best nationally ranked biological & biomedical sciences bachelor’s degree schools.
(College Factual, 2025)

Community and Student Life

Raquette Lake kayak launch — Nature lovers

Outdoors.com named Cortland among the best college and university choices for outdoor and nature lovers. (Cortland News)

Student and dietician talking about plant-based foods — Healthy living

Named one of the nation’s healthiest campuses by Partnership for a Healthier America for initiatives ranging from nutritional options to academic offerings. (Cortland News)

Student running the track at the Student Life Center with weight and cardio machines in the background — Student Life Center

Cortland’s comprehensive 148,800-square-foot student life center is recognized as the nation’s most outstanding recreation facility by the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association. (Cortland News)

Students enjoying downtown — College Town

Top 5 college town in New York state, ranked No. 5 by BestColleges.com. (Cortland News)

Student's walk up Court Street on a beautiful fall day — Affordable

#1 national ranking as “the most affordable small town where you’d actually like to live,” according to Realtor.com. (Cortland News)

Student using a walker shaking hands with President Bitterbaum — Disability Friendly

No. 42 on a national list of disability-friendly colleges, one of only three New York state institutions recognized by Intelligent.com. (Cortland News)

Athletics

National and Individual champions

The university’s Athletics Department boasts 26 national championships across 11 sports as well as 108 individual national titles.

Commissioner's Cup

Cortland has earned the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Cup for overall sports excellence 19 times — most in the conference.
In 2025, 17 of 22 teams won their championship titles, breaking the SUNYAC Record for the most championships earned in one year.

Record-breaking fans

Cortland set the all-time single game Division III attendance record in the 2019 Cortaca Jug game, the university’s annual football rivalry with Ithaca College, with 45,161 fans attending the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Division III Top program

Ranked among the top 28 all-around Division III athletic programs 25 of the last 28 years.

Sustainability

Sustainability tree.jpg

Recognized as one of the most sustainable campuses in the U.S. on the Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges.” (Cortland News)
The first university in the 64-campus SUNY system to operate all of its facilities using 100% renewable electrical energy. (Cortland News)
Home to New York’s first campus residence hall to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum designation. (Cortland News)
Regularly recognized as one of the nation’s greenest university campuses on the Sierra Club’s annual list of “Cool Schools.” (Cortland News)
Recipient of a bronze award in the Waste Reduction category of the 2024 National Association of College and University Food Services Sustainability Award. (Cortland News)
One of 33 colleges and universities nationally to be named a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycle Friendly America. (Cortland News)
Recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for efforts to establish and sustain a vibrant, urban forest. (Cortland News)
One of 34 Bee Campus USA sites according to Bee City USA, a national organization dedicated to raising awareness about natural pollinators like bees. (Cortland News)

Accolades

Overall excellence

Teacher Education

All Academics

Community and Student Life

Nature lovers

Healthy living

Student Life Center

College Town

Affordable

Disability Friendly

Athletics

Sustainability