Most affordable colleges with strong academics in New York
The lowest net prices among colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B or better.
Most affordable colleges with strong academics in New York79 schools
79 schools qualify, ranked by net price. 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 from federal data (the average yearly cost after grants, College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by net price, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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- 2
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Net price $3,033 a year
- 72% graduate
- 3
- 4
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Net price $6,174 a year
- 82% graduate
- 5
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- Net price $7,032 a year
- 81% graduate
- 6
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $13,269 a year
- 81% graduate
- 7
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- Net price $15,245 a year
- 81% graduate
- 8
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Niagara University
Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Net price $17,248 a year
- 75% graduate
- 11
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $17,940 a year
- 66% graduate
- 12
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $18,211 a year
- 71% graduate
- 13
Daemen University
Amherst, NY · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- Net price $18,693 a year
- 59% graduate
- 14
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $18,784 a year
- 76% graduate
- 15
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 72% graduate
- 16
SUNY at Purchase College
Purchase, NY · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $18,913 a year
- 63% graduate
- 17
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY · PublicTop 10% for low debt
- Net price $18,952 a year
- 66% graduate
- 18
St. Joseph's University-New York
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Net price $19,035 a year
- 69% graduate
- 19
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- Net price $19,095 a year
- 81% graduate
- 20
- 21
D'Youville University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Net price $20,433 a year
- 67% graduate
- 22
Houghton University
Houghton, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $20,519 a year
- 65% graduate
- 23
Manhattanville University
Purchase, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $20,991 a year
- 58% graduate
- 24
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $20,995 a year
- 75% graduate
- 25
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Net price $21,590 a year
- 96% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Hunter College | About $3,000 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 57% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | About $3,000 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| CUNY City College | About $4,000 | $11,990 | $66,039 | 57% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | About $6,000 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Yeshivas Novominsk | About $7,000 | — | — | 81% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | About $13,000 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Boricua College | About $15,000 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| SUNY at Fredonia | About $16,000 | $24,250 | $54,247 | 50% |
| University at Albany | About $17,000 | $19,500 | $67,979 | 61% |
| Niagara University | About $17,000 | $25,475 | $56,196 | 75% |
| Canisius University | About $18,000 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | About $18,000 | $19,500 | $67,316 | 71% |
| Daemen University | About $19,000 | $22,091 | $61,808 | 59% |
| Stony Brook University | About $19,000 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | About $19,000 | $18,750 | $58,073 | 72% |
| SUNY at Purchase College | About $19,000 | $21,067 | $45,092 | 63% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | About $19,000 | $11,000 | $55,763 | 66% |
| St. Joseph's University-New York | About $19,000 | $22,000 | $63,905 | 69% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | About $19,000 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| SUNY Oneonta | About $19,000 | $19,812 | $60,386 | 69% |
| D'Youville University | About $20,000 | $25,000 | $66,942 | 67% |
| Houghton University | About $21,000 | $25,250 | $46,721 | 65% |
| Manhattanville University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $58,832 | 58% |
| University at Buffalo | About $21,000 | $19,000 | $70,814 | 75% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
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 63
- 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 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- 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 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15