Colleges that spend the most on teaching in New York
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in New York80 schools
80 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student. 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 instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- $110,371 on teaching per student
- 6 students per faculty member
- 2
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $42,373 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 3
The Juilliard School
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 3% for graduation
- $40,451 on teaching per student
- 4 students per faculty member
- 4
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $40,019 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 5
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $37,294 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 6
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $35,566 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 7
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $34,689 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 8
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- $33,431 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 9
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $33,239 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 10
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $32,573 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 11
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $31,938 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 12
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY · PublicHonor Roll#1 in New York
- $31,824 on teaching per student
- 6 students per faculty member
- 13
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $29,447 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 14
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NY · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- $28,471 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 15
Union College
Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- $26,013 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 16
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- $25,510 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 17
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $25,466 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 18
New York School of Interior Design
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- $23,989 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 19
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $22,608 on teaching per student
- 19 students per faculty member
- 20
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- $22,295 on teaching per student
- 26 students per faculty member
- 21
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $21,462 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 22
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- $21,369 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 23
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- $20,696 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 24
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for earnings
- $20,551 on teaching per student
- 15 students per faculty member
- 25
CUNY City College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- $20,521 on teaching per student
- 15 students per faculty member
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $21,590 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
| Bard College | $34,649 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| The Juilliard School | $43,571 | $25,500 | $37,827 | 93% |
| University of Rochester | $29,278 | $21,000 | $79,042 | 85% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Webb Institute | $73,043 | — | — | 88% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| United States Military Academy | — | — | — | 87% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | $29,882 | $25,500 | $131,426 | 68% |
| Union College | $34,561 | $25,337 | $88,604 | 80% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $18,952 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| New York School of Interior Design | $45,271 | — | $48,041 | 69% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Yeshivas Novominsk | $7,032 | — | — | 81% |
| Sarah Lawrence College | $41,437 | $27,000 | $53,603 | 71% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | $34,906 | $26,778 | $76,571 | 70% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $36,228 | $23,750 | $102,051 | 84% |
| Syracuse University | $38,793 | $26,000 | $79,164 | 84% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
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 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15