Stony Brook makes top 100 universities list

Stony Brook University is among the top public schools and one of the best 100 universities in the nation, according to the 2013 edition of U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges rankings released Wednesday.

The annual list -- closely watched by some students, parents and colleges -- ranks schools in several categories, including national universities, regional universities and liberal arts colleges, top public schools, and best business, engineering and teaching programs. The publication uses a variety of metrics, including freshmen retention, graduation rates and the strength of the faculty.

Stony Brook tied the University of Vermont in Burlington at No. 40 for top public schools and ranked No. 92 on the list of best national universities.

"In a way, this quantifies our efforts, which is gratifying," said Stony Brook president Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr. "It is a testament to the hard work and dedicated efforts of our faculty and staff, and I applaud them for this achievement."

Hofstra University ranked No. 134 on the national universities list, in a three-way tie with DePaul University in Chicago and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

Adelphi University ranked No. 155 on the same list, which includes 280 schools.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point came in at No. 3 on the list of regional colleges in the North that focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. The school, which graduates naval officers, was just under Cooper Union in Manhattan at No. 1 and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., at No. 2.

The Merchant Marine Academy also was ranked No. 2 among public regional colleges in the North. Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale came in at No. 8 on that list.

Molloy College in Rockville Centre ranked No. 47 on a list of regional universities in the North that offer undergraduate programs, some master's programs and a few doctoral programs.

LIU Post in Brookville came in at No. 112 on that list, tied with Holy Family University in Philadelphia and Utica College in upstate Utica.

Dowling College and SUNY College at Old Westbury received the "Rank Not Published" designation, meaning they placed in the bottom quarter of their ranking categories, which U.S. News does not publish.

U.S. News compiled two new lists this year: "A+ Schools for B Students," which cited Stony Brook, and "Up-and-Coming Schools," which did not include any on Long Island.

Stony Brook also ranked 47th in a category that lists schools with students graduating with the least amount of debt.