Best large colleges in New York
Colleges with 10,000 or more undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best large colleges in New York19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 10,000 or more undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- 16,051 undergraduates
- 95% graduate
- 2
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 29,760 undergraduates
- 88% graduate
- 3
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 14,409 undergraduates
- 82% graduate
- 4
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 17,549 undergraduates
- 76% graduate
- 5
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for earnings
- 15,739 undergraduates
- 84% graduate
- 6
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- 16,086 undergraduates
- 72% graduate
- 7
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 6% for earnings
- 10,307 undergraduates
- 82% graduate
- 8
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 20,463 undergraduates
- 75% graduate
- 9
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- 14,076 undergraduates
- 70% graduate
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- 11,678 undergraduates
- 56% graduate
- 14Tie
- 14Tie
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- 15,699 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 16
- 17
Long Island University
Brookville, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 11,753 undergraduates
- 57% graduate
- 18
- 19
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · PublicTop 4% for low net price
- 13,767 undergraduates
- 21% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| 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% |
| University at Buffalo | $20,995 | $19,000 | $70,814 | 75% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | $34,906 | $26,778 | $76,571 | 70% |
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | $3,103 | $11,000 | $60,752 | 54% |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | $3,203 | $11,000 | $56,195 | 56% |
| CUNY Queens College | $4,195 | $10,298 | $62,763 | 53% |
| St. John's University-New York | $29,999 | $25,000 | $69,571 | 66% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| Long Island University | $33,062 | $23,577 | $59,950 | 57% |
| CUNY Lehman College | $3,148 | $10,950 | $58,013 | 51% |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | $5,127 | $10,533 | $49,365 | 21% |
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 5
- Arizona 6
- California 29
- Colorado 6
- District of Columbia 3
- Florida 13
- Georgia 8
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 8
- Indiana 6
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 4
- Louisiana 4
- Maryland 4
- Massachusetts 6
- Michigan 8
- Minnesota 3
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 4
- North Carolina 9
- Ohio 9
- Oklahoma 3
- Oregon 3
- Pennsylvania 6
- South Carolina 4
- Tennessee 4
- Texas 19
- Utah 8
- Virginia 8
- Washington 3
- Wisconsin 3