Best value colleges in New York
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in New York75 schools
75 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.
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).
- 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
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
- 3
CUNY City College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $3,776 a year
- 4
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $2,984 a year
- 5
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
- 6
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $18,784 a year
- 7
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $19,095 a year
- 8
University at Albany
Albany, NY · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $17,167 a year
- 9
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $21,620 a year
- 10
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $18,952 a year
- 11
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- Net price $18,211 a year
- 12
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- Net price $20,995 a year
- 13
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- Net price $21,590 a year
- 14
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $28,690 a year
- 15
SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY · PublicTop 3% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- Net price $22,367 a year
- 16
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- Net price $28,786 a year
- 17
St. Joseph's University-New York
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- Net price $19,035 a year
- 18Tie
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 18Tie
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- Net price $19,158 a year
- 20
Daemen University
Amherst, NY · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- Net price $18,693 a year
- 21
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- Net price $28,985 a year
- 22
New York Institute of Technology
Old Westbury, NY · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- Net price $22,443 a year
- 23
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- Net price $17,940 a year
- 24
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- Net price $28,800 a year
- 25
D'Youville University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- Net price $20,433 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% |
| 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% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | $19,095 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $18,952 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | $18,211 | $19,500 | $67,316 | 71% |
| University at Buffalo | $20,995 | $19,000 | $70,814 | 75% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $21,590 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| SUNY Maritime College | $22,367 | $23,250 | $95,951 | 64% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| St. Joseph's University-New York | $19,035 | $22,000 | $63,905 | 69% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | $18,809 | $18,750 | $58,073 | 72% |
| SUNY Oneonta | $19,158 | $19,812 | $60,386 | 69% |
| Daemen University | $18,693 | $22,091 | $61,808 | 59% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| New York Institute of Technology | $22,443 | $23,334 | $70,080 | 59% |
| Canisius University | $17,940 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| D'Youville University | $20,433 | $25,000 | $66,942 | 67% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15