SUNY Potsdam Ranked in Top Tier of Northern Regional Universities

The State University of New York at Potsdam Ranked No. 1 Among SUNY Regional Universities in U.S. News Best Colleges for Veterans List

POTSDAM, NY (09/09/2014)(readMedia)-- The State University of New York at Potsdam was the top-ranked SUNY regional university in the new 2015 Best Colleges for Veterans list released today by U.S. News & World Report. The newest edition of "America's Best Colleges" ranks SUNY Potsdam No. 31 in the Best Colleges for Veterans list, among regional universities in the North. Potsdam was the only comprehensive institution in SUNY to make the U.S. News list of campuses recommended for veterans.

In addition, U.S. News & World Report named SUNY Potsdam to the top tier of regional universities in the Northern United States, for the sixteenth consecutive year.

"SUNY Potsdam is proud to offer a high quality educational experience for members of the military, veterans and their families. We are honored to support those who serve our country," said President Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg. "Rankings like U.S. News will never fully reflect the depth of the SUNY Potsdam experience, but it is rewarding for our academic excellence to be recognized in a national publication."

The best colleges for veterans list includes campuses who are members of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium, are certified for the G.I. Bill, and charge in-state tuition for out-of-state veterans. The campuses are then ranked according to their performance on the overall Best Regional Universities list.

U.S. News & World Report bases the Best Colleges rankings on assessment by peer institutions, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

The news organization classifies regional universities as public and private colleges that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master's programs, but offer few, if any, doctoral programs. The 620 regional universities that U.S. News & World Report examined for this year's guide were ranked against their peer group in four geographic regions -- the North, South, Midwest and West, and rated as either top or second tier.

"Again this year, we are proud to see so many of our SUNY campuses recognized as being among the best nationally by U.S. News & World Report," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "In every community across New York State, SUNY colleges and universities like Potsdam offer students top quality degree programs and applied learning opportunities that prepare them for success in today's 21st-century global economy. Congratulations to each of the SUNY campuses making the list for 2015."

The U.S. News & World Report rankings will be published in the September issue of the magazine, which hits newsstands today. For more information about "America's Best Colleges," visit www.usnews.com/colleges.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $27 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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