alphabetical / by state
103 Traditional Schools in New York
One of the 13 original British colonies in America, New York has long been central to culture, politics, and industry in the US. Settled by the Dutch before the 18th century, and won by Britain in the Anglo-Dutch War, New York quickly emerged as a leading colony due to its prime location as a port and trade city. New York was also the birthplace of the Sons of Liberty, the first underground network of revolutionaries that would form the core of the American Revolution (including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere). So, in many ways, it’s fair to say there would be no United States without New York, whether from a political standpoint, or a cultural perspective - when the rest of the world talks about American culture, they’re talking about New York.
New York City, and the NYC metropolitan area, alone makes up 40% of the state’s population, and despite its incredible size, is still one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. New York has long been the hub of the publishing, fashion, television, and financial industries, with Manhattan standing as the biggest business district in the US. From Wall Street to Broadway, New York dominates nearly every American business, and is the heart of American art, theater, and music. New York state as a whole has a wide diversity of land and employment, especially tourism (including natural wonders like Niagara Falls), agriculture, manufacturing, and technology (centered around the Tech Valley, home of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Polytechnic). Thanks largely to New York City, New York has one of the most diverse populations in the US, second only to California for the proportion of immigrants. New York has been the destination of choice for immigrants since the 19th century, and, as represented by the Statue of Liberty, is still the dream of millions of people around the world.
The higher education system in New York includes more than 200 colleges and universities to meet the needs of such a population - including more than 60 institutions in the State University of New York (SUNY) system alone. New York is home to some of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the world, including two Ivy League universities (Columbia and Cornell); a host of elite private liberal arts colleges like Vassar College, Union College, and Barnard College; and some of the most accomplished public colleges and universities in the nation. With not only a huge population, but the weight of American industry and culture on its shoulders, New York’s higher education needs are beyond any other, and New York’s colleges and universities are the gold standard.
