Best value colleges in the Northeast
Colleges in the Northeast with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.
Best value colleges in the Northeast239 schools
239 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- In the Northeast (U.S. Census Bureau region).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $6,174 a year
- 2
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $6,128 a year
- 3
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $3,033 a year
- 4
CUNY City College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $3,776 a year
- 5
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $2,984 a year
- 6
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $13,269 a year
- 7
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $17,716 a year
- 8
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maine
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $14,398 a year
- 9
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $19,066 a year
- 10
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · PublicTop 12% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $13,807 a year
- 11
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $20,111 a year
- 12
Colby College
Waterville, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $17,180 a year
- 13
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $16,504 a year
- 14
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $18,784 a year
- 15
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $25,496 a year
- 16
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $19,095 a year
- 17
Yale University
New Haven, CT · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in Connecticut
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $23,777 a year
- 18
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Manchester, NH · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $9,992 a year
- 19
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $23,367 a year
- 20
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in Rhode Island
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- Net price $25,184 a year
- 21
Charter Oak State College
New Britain, CT · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $15,815 a year
- 22
University at Albany
Albany, NY · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $17,167 a year
- 23
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- Net price $18,745 a year
- 24Tie
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $25,314 a year
- 24Tie
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $21,620 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Bowdoin College | $14,398 | $18,500 | $82,735 | 95% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | $13,807 | $21,500 | $73,997 | 62% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Colby College | $17,180 | $19,157 | $80,490 | 89% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | $19,095 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| Yale University | $23,777 | $12,975 | $100,533 | 96% |
| University of New Hampshire at Manchester | $9,992 | $26,814 | $66,479 | 50% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Brown University | $25,184 | $11,428 | $93,487 | 96% |
| Charter Oak State College | $15,815 | $18,683 | $64,209 | 67% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.