Stony Brook University has been named one of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2025 by Forbes, in collaboration with market research firm Statista. The recognition is based on feedback from more than 160,000 employees working at organizations with at least 500 workers in the United States.
The America’s Best-in-State Employers list, now in its seventh year, recognizes companies and organizations for their performance as employers within their regions and states. It also acknowledges their efforts to create environments where employees can succeed.
“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.”
Jed M. Shivers, Stony Brook’s senior vice president for finance and administration, stated: “Being named a best-in-state employer is a direct reflection of each and every person who makes up the Stony Brook community. 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.”
The university supports its workforce through various events such as Employee Appreciation Day, wellness fairs like Be Well, Work Well Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair, fitness activities including 5K runs via Healthier U initiatives, as well as new offerings such as LinkedIn Learning set to launch this fall. Earlier this year, Human Resources also introduced the Be Heard employee engagement survey.
Stony Brook is among only five universities included in New York State on this year’s list. The university ranked #81 overall in New York, ahead of other institutions such as Adelphi University, Cornell University, and University at Buffalo.
Survey participants across the country rated their employers based on several factors including willingness to recommend their workplace to others; criteria such as wage parity; work culture; opportunities for professional growth; and how employers address serious issues like sexual harassment.
Forbes updated its methodology in 2024 to include a three-year look back period when conducting surveys periodically over three years. This approach helps distinguish organizations that show consistent performance over time from those with only short-term improvements.
A total of 1,417 companies appeared on at least one state list this year out of a combined 2,500 rankings nationwide.
The complete list can be found at https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-by-state/.
