New Carnegie Honors Prove Alfred State is No. 1

Alfred State College (ASC) earned a No. 1 ranking in the US among colleges and universities through analysis of a coveted dual recognition from the Carnegie Foundation’s newly expanded classifications. The two designations are for career-readiness with applied learning and for offering a combination of high student access with exceptional graduate earnings.

Only three public schools across the country received both the prestigious designations of “Applied and Career Studies” and “Opportunity College and University: Higher Access & Higher Earnings” while also being recognized by Carnegie for offering a choice of two-year associate and four-year bachelor’s degrees. Alfred State not only earned both Carnegie designations but also scored highest among the three institutions, demonstrating the college’s commitment to student success and social mobility.

“For years, universities have taken great pride in Carnegie Classifications for excellence in research,” said Dr. Steven Mauro, President of Alfred State. “We’re thrilled that Carnegie now recognizes what we’ve always prioritized, life-changing outcomes for students and a return on investment for families. We’re proud that ASC stands out nationally.”

Alfred State is the only public college in New York to be recognized for the “Applied and Career Studies” special focus. ASC qualified for the honor by offering a wide variety of associate and bachelor’s degrees with a strong focus on real-world, hands-on education, including high-demand skilled trades.

In addition, Alfred State’s designation as an “Opportunity College and University” places the college among just 16 percent nationally, and one of only seven State University of New York (SUNY) campuses with this distinction. To earn placement on this elite list, universities and colleges must:

• Provide greater economic mobility measured by the number of Pell Grant recipients served and other signs of inclusion.
• Deliver exceptional median earnings eight years after graduation, compared to peers with only a high school diploma.

“Our students are supported by what we call the ‘A-Team’ for a full network of wraparound services that extend from academic and financial guidance to health, safety, and career services,” said Dr. Carrie Cokely, VP of Academic Affairs. “At the heart is our Center for Academic Resources and Excellence (CARE). The dedication by our faculty, tutors, and staff to assist students shows how we truly care from your first year through graduation.”

Among the three public institutions recognized for both designations and offering two-year and four-year degrees, Alfred State led in access and earnings:

A score of 1.00 indicates that a college is average for its region. ASC’s access score of 2.14 means that the college offers access that is more than double the socio-economic composition of the region. The 1.49 earnings score means median earnings of graduates are 49 percent more than high school graduates aged 22-40 in the region. 

College leaders believe Carnegie’s classifications affirm Alfred State’s national leadership in hands-on, career-focused education, while providing both opportunity and outcomes. 

More information regarding ASC honors is available at www.AlfredState.edu/rankings. 

About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. Carnegie Classifications Database

About the American Council on Education: ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities, and associations, ACE designs solutions for today’s challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. www.ACEnet.edu

Details of the Alfred State Analysis: A focused comparative analysis searched for key performance data from the Carnegie Foundation’s newly expanded classification system to highlight Alfred State's national leadership. This evaluation examined three critical measures of an "Opportunity College and University:" the Access Score, which reflects how effectively a college enrolls students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds; the Earnings Score, which compares graduate income to regional norms for high school graduates; and the percentage of Pell Grant recipients, a strong indicator of support for low-income students.

Among thousands of US institutions listed by Carnegie, only three public colleges in the nation met all the following criteria:

1. Recognition as an Opportunity College or University with Higher Access and Higher Earnings,
2. A special focus on Applied and Career Studies,
3. A commitment to offering bachelor’s degrees and associate programs.

Alfred State not only earned this rare distinction, but it also led the group to rank number one in each key performance indicator. This demonstrates a powerful combination of access, outcomes, and hands-on career readiness that is unique to ASC.

The next Carnegie Classifications will be released in 2028.