Colleges with the lowest student debt in New York
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in New York75 schools
75 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. 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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- Median debt $6,733
- 81% graduate
- 2
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Median debt $8,833
- 82% graduate
- 3Tie
- 3Tie
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- Median debt $11,000
- 66% graduate
- 5
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Median debt $11,512
- 72% graduate
- 6
- 7
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Median debt $12,000
- 81% graduate
- 8
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- Median debt $14,000
- 95% graduate
- 9Tie
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $15,000
- 91% graduate
- 9Tie
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $15,000
- 81% graduate
- 11
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $15,250
- 72% graduate
- 12
Touro University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $15,547
- 72% graduate
- 13
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $17,000
- 91% graduate
- 14
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $18,000
- 93% graduate
- 15
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $18,228
- 76% graduate
- 16
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $18,250
- 83% graduate
- 17
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $18,500
- 82% graduate
- 18
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $18,625
- 91% graduate
- 19
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $18,750
- 72% graduate
- 20
- 21Tie
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $19,500
- 83% graduate
- 21Tie
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $19,500
- 71% graduate
- 21Tie
- 24
- 25
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $20,500
- 88% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boricua College | $15,245 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $18,952 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | $19,095 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $41,416 | $15,250 | $26,975 | 72% |
| Touro University | $29,627 | $15,547 | $53,419 | 72% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Yeshiva University | $49,965 | $18,250 | $71,353 | 83% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | $18,809 | $18,750 | $58,073 | 72% |
| University at Buffalo | $20,995 | $19,000 | $70,814 | 75% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | $18,211 | $19,500 | $67,316 | 71% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| SUNY Oneonta | $19,158 | $19,812 | $60,386 | 69% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
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 61
- 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 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15