Best colleges under $20,000 a year in New York
The highest-rated colleges whose average yearly price after grants is under $20,000.
Best colleges under $20,000 a year in New York20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Net price (average yearly cost after grants) under $20,000 from federal data (College Scorecard).
- 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
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
- 2
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- Net price $15,245 a year
- 81% graduate
- 3
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Net price $6,174 a year
- 82% graduate
- 4
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $18,784 a year
- 76% graduate
- 5
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Net price $3,033 a year
- 72% graduate
- 6
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Net price $19,095 a year
- 81% graduate
- 7
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $18,211 a year
- 71% graduate
- 8
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 72% graduate
- 9
- 10
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- Net price $18,952 a year
- 66% graduate
- 11
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- Net price $7,032 a year
- 81% graduate
- 12
- 13
- 14Tie
St. Joseph's University-New York
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Net price $19,035 a year
- 69% graduate
- 14Tie
SUNY at Purchase College
Purchase, NY · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $18,913 a year
- 63% graduate
- 16
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Net price $17,248 a year
- 75% graduate
- 17
- 18
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $17,940 a year
- 66% graduate
- 19
Daemen University
Amherst, NY · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- Net price $18,693 a year
- 59% graduate
- 20
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Boricua College | $15,245 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | $19,095 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | $18,211 | $19,500 | $67,316 | 71% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | $18,809 | $18,750 | $58,073 | 72% |
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $18,952 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| Yeshivas Novominsk | $7,032 | — | — | 81% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| SUNY Oneonta | $19,158 | $19,812 | $60,386 | 69% |
| St. Joseph's University-New York | $19,035 | $22,000 | $63,905 | 69% |
| SUNY at Purchase College | $18,913 | $21,067 | $45,092 | 63% |
| Niagara University | $17,248 | $25,475 | $56,196 | 75% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| Canisius University | $17,940 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| Daemen University | $18,693 | $22,091 | $61,808 | 59% |
| SUNY at Fredonia | $15,897 | $24,250 | $54,247 | 50% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.