Best colleges in the New York area
Colleges within 50 miles of New York, ranked by Compass Score.
69 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Campus within 50 miles of the center of New York (straight-line distance from the school’s coordinates).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Net price $6,128 a year
- 98% graduate
- 2
- 3
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Net price $21,590 a year
- 96% graduate
- 4
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $73,043 a year
- 88% graduate
- 5
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $28,800 a year
- 93% graduate
- 6
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $37,050 a year
- 88% graduate
- 7
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $13,269 a year
- 81% graduate
- 8
The Juilliard School
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 3% for graduation
- Net price $43,571 a year
- 93% graduate
- 9
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- Net price $15,245 a year
- 81% graduate
- 10
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $41,346 a year
- 87% graduate
- 11
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Net price $6,174 a year
- 82% graduate
- 12
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 4% for graduation
- Net price $10,016 a year
- 91% graduate
- 13
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Net price $48,095 a year
- 84% graduate
- 14
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $49,965 a year
- 83% graduate
- 15
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $24,406 a year
- 84% graduate
- 16
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $18,784 a year
- 76% graduate
- 17
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Net price $3,033 a year
- 72% graduate
- 18
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 6% for earnings
- Net price $44,338 a year
- 82% graduate
- 19Tie
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $41,416 a year
- 72% graduate
- 19Tie
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Net price $19,095 a year
- 81% graduate
- 21
Touro University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $29,627 a year
- 72% graduate
- 22
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Net price $16,504 a year
- 73% graduate
- 23
Manhattan School of Music
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- Net price $51,754 a year
- 78% graduate
- 24
Mesivta of Eastern Parkway-Yeshiva Zichron Meilech
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $9,927 a year
- 67% graduate
- 25
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $41,437 a year
- 71% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.