Best colleges in New York
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in New York135 schools
135 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 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
- 2
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- 95% graduate
- 3
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 96% graduate
- 4
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 91% graduate
- 5
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 91% graduate
- 6
- 7
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 93% graduate
- 8
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- 88% graduate
- 9
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade C+
- 91% graduate
- 10
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 81% graduate
- 11
- 12
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- 83% graduate
- 13
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 85% graduate
- 14
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 81% graduate
- 15
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- 82% graduate
- 16
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 82% graduate
- 17
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade C+
- 83% graduate
- 18
Union College
Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 80% graduate
- 19
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 84% graduate
- 20
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 76% graduate
- 21
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 84% graduate
- 22
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 72% graduate
- 23
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 82% graduate
- 24
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B-
- 79% graduate
- 25
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade C+
- 72% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Military Academy | — | — | — | 87% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $21,590 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| Webb Institute | $73,043 | — | — | 88% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| The Juilliard School | $43,571 | $25,500 | $37,827 | 93% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| University of Rochester | $29,278 | $21,000 | $79,042 | 85% |
| Boricua College | $15,245 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Yeshiva University | $49,965 | $18,250 | $71,353 | 83% |
| Union College | $34,561 | $25,337 | $88,604 | 80% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $36,228 | $23,750 | $102,051 | 84% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Syracuse University | $38,793 | $26,000 | $79,164 | 84% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| Fordham University | $44,338 | $24,300 | $85,569 | 82% |
| St. Lawrence University | $28,651 | $27,000 | $67,258 | 79% |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $41,416 | $15,250 | $26,975 | 72% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3