Forbes, partnering with market research firm Statista, has recognized Stony Brook University as one of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2025.
Honorees were identified based on a sample of more than 160,000 employees working for companies with at least 500 US-based workers.
Now in its seventh year, the America’s Best-in-State Employers recognition highlights companies and organizations for their success as employers on a regional and statewide level, and for their commitment to fostering an environment where employees can thrive.
“Being named one of America’s Best-in-State Employers is an incredible honor that reflects the strength of our people and the culture we’ve built together,” said Interim Vice President for Human Resources Jennifer Donnelly. “Attracting and retaining top talent means fostering a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired — and that’s exactly what we strive for every day.”
“Being named a best-in-state employer is a direct reflection of each and every person who makes up the Stony Brook community,” said Jed M. Shivers, Stony Brook’s senior vice president for finance and administration. “I came here because I was attracted by Stony Brook’s long history of transforming the lives of its students (many of whom are first generation and/or Pell eligible) and helping them contribute to our region and our state. There’s a tangible sense of purpose here, and you can see it in the work of our faculty, staff, and students every single day. Their commitment is the engine powering all of our successes, from groundbreaking research and top-tier rankings for academic programs and Stony Brook University Hospital, to our focus on catalyzing research and its practical application and becoming an economic hub for our region. This award is a testament to the community we continue to build together.”
Stony Brook has a long tradition of supporting and celebrating its employees, hosting events like Employee Appreciation Day, the Be Well, Work Well Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair, as well as fitness classes, 5K runs and other wellness initiatives through Healthier U. Human Resources also launched the Be Heard employee engagement survey earlier this year, and LinkedIn Learning is coming to Stony Brook this fall.
Forbes Methodology
Stony Brook — one of only five universities to make the list in New York State — ranked # 81 overall in New York, ahead of Adelphi University, Cornell University and Buffalo State University.
Survey respondents nationwide were asked how likely they were to recommend their employer on a scale of zero to 10 and were asked to evaluate their workplace based on criteria including wage parity, work culture, paths to professional advancement and whether the employer takes action on serious issues, such as sexual harassment.
In 2024, the methodology started using the “three-year look back,” which means the survey is conducted periodically over the course of the previous three years. The consideration of data from a three-year period allows a robust differentiation between organizations that consistently perform well from those that may only have had a single good year.
Ultimately, 1,417 companies made it onto at least one of the state lists, which yielded a combined 2,500 rankings.
See the full list of America’s Best-In-State Employers 2025.
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