Lowest net price for middle-income families in New York
Colleges with the lowest average yearly price after grants for families earning $30,000 to $75,000.
Lowest net price for middle-income families in New York79 schools
79 schools qualify, ranked by net price for families earning $30,000–$75,000. 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 net price for families earning $30,000 to $75,000 from federal data (College Scorecard); it covers students who receive federal aid.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by that net price, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- $3,637 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 57% graduate
- 2
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- $3,769 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 72% graduate
- 3
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- $4,193 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 96% graduate
- 4
CUNY City College
New York, NY · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- $4,588 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 57% graduate
- 5
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- $5,126 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 82% graduate
- 6
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- $5,626 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 95% graduate
- 7
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- $6,369 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 81% graduate
- 8
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $8,407 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 81% graduate
- 9
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $9,428 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 91% graduate
- 10
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $10,129 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 91% graduate
- 11
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $13,711 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 66% graduate
- 12
SUNY at Fredonia
Fredonia, NY · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- $13,814 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 50% graduate
- 13
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $13,918 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 83% graduate
- 14
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $14,318 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 91% graduate
- 15
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- $14,595 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 75% graduate
- 16
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $14,653 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 71% graduate
- 17
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- $15,090 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 66% graduate
- 18
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $15,476 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 88% graduate
- 19
Daemen University
Amherst, NY · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- $15,645 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 59% graduate
- 20
University at Albany
Albany, NY · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- $16,004 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 61% graduate
- 21
St. Joseph's University-New York
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- $16,235 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 69% graduate
- 22
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- $16,503 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 81% graduate
- 23
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $16,535 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 85% graduate
- 24
Manhattanville University
Purchase, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $16,602 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 58% graduate
- 25
D'Youville University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- $17,078 a year for families earning $30,000–$75,000
- 67% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $21,590 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
| CUNY City College | $3,776 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Yeshivas Novominsk | $7,032 | — | — | 81% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| Canisius University | $17,940 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| SUNY at Fredonia | $15,897 | $24,250 | $54,247 | 50% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| Niagara University | $17,248 | $25,475 | $56,196 | 75% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | $18,211 | $19,500 | $67,316 | 71% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $18,952 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| Daemen University | $18,693 | $22,091 | $61,808 | 59% |
| University at Albany | $17,167 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| St. Joseph's University-New York | $19,035 | $22,000 | $63,905 | 69% |
| Boricua College | $15,245 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| University of Rochester | $29,278 | $21,000 | $79,042 | 85% |
| Manhattanville University | $20,991 | $25,000 | $58,832 | 58% |
| 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 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 20
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 45
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 18
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15