For the second consecutive year, Forbes has ranked Stony Brook University among America’s Best-in-State Employers, marking the fourth time it has been so honored in the rankings’ eight-year history.
Stony Brook was ranked 69th overall in New York State in 2026 among the nationwide list of 1,365 employers. No more than 100 employers from all industries are recognized in any one state.
“The recognition is a testament to the strong sense of community and shared purpose that define Stony Brook. It’s also a testament to Stony Brook’s faculty and staff who, through their work each day, make the university welcoming, and extend their warmth and deep commitment with others,” said Vice President for Human Resources Jane Savage. “This honor belongs to all of them, and I am grateful for the many ways they continue to make a difference each and every day.”
“Earning this recognition for a second time is a powerful indicator that Stony Brook’s momentum isn’t accidental, but driven by daily commitment to this institution from our faculty and staff. It also reflects that we are making improvements,” said Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration Jed M. Shivers. “I am incredibly proud to work alongside colleagues whose hard work makes Stony Brook not only an exceptional place to learn and innovate but also a rewarding place to build a career.”
Forbes has previously ranked Stony Brook University as one of America’s Top Colleges for 2026, as well as Best Employers for Diversity, Best Employers for Women and Best Employers for New Grads.
Forbes recognized the university’s commitment to its values around learning and growth, its culture of expression, an emphasis on belonging through Seawolf Resource Groups, and its strong connection to the broader community thanks to events like CommUniversity Day, as well as initiatives at Stony Brook Southampton like the FoodLab Community Garden and The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series. Additionally, the university’s benefits and total rewards package is designed to support its employees at every stage of their work life and beyond.
To create the list, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 245,000 employees who work for a company of at least 500 people within the United States. Survey respondents — hailing from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. — were asked how likely they were to recommend their employer on a scale of zero to 10 and were asked to assess their workplace based on criteria including wages and benefits, management style, company reputation, flexibility and career advancement opportunities. Participants were also asked to evaluate their previous employers (within the last two years) and organizations they knew within their industry or through friends or family who work there.
Responses were then tallied and incorporated into a scoring system, along with survey data from the past three years. Greater weight was given to more recent data and to responses from current employees within the state. Companies that received the highest scores in each state made the final lists, with each state ranking between three and 101 employers, depending on the size of the state and the number of responses received.
The State University of New York at is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges, and embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality. Stony Brook is ranked as the #59 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges, and its membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America.
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