Most selective colleges in New York
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in New York79 schools
79 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate. 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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
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
- Admits 4%
- Average SAT 1553
- 2
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- Admits 9%
- Average SAT 1535
- 3
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 9%
- Average SAT 1520
- 4
- 5
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 9%
- Average SAT 1520
- 6
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY · PublicHonor Roll#1 in New York
- Admits 12%
- Average SAT 1355
- 7
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 14%
- Average SAT 1506
- 8
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 14%
- Average SAT 1508
- 9
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 14%
- Average SAT 1496
- 10
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 19%
- Average SAT 1494
- 11
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 21%
- Average SAT 1410
- 12
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 21%
- Average SAT 1405
- 13
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 24%
- 14
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Admits 34%
- Average SAT 1207
- 15
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 39%
- Average SAT 1415
- 16
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 40%
- Average SAT 1488
- 17
- 18
Union College
Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Admits 44%
- Average SAT 1395
- 19
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for earnings
- Admits 46%
- Average SAT 1375
- 20
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- Admits 48%
- Average SAT 1280
- 21
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 49%
- Average SAT 1419
- 22
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 52%
- Average SAT 1380
- 23
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NY · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 53%
- Average SAT 1252
- 24
- 25
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% |
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| The Juilliard School | $43,571 | $25,500 | $37,827 | 93% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| United States Military Academy | — | — | — | 87% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| Webb Institute | $73,043 | — | — | 88% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $41,416 | $15,250 | $26,975 | 72% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | $6,174 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| University of Rochester | $29,278 | $21,000 | $79,042 | 85% |
| Manhattan School of Music | $51,754 | $26,994 | $26,878 | 78% |
| Union College | $34,561 | $25,337 | $88,604 | 80% |
| Syracuse University | $38,793 | $26,000 | $79,164 | 84% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Bard College | $34,649 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | $29,882 | $25,500 | $131,426 | 68% |
| Russell Sage College | $22,917 | $22,000 | $58,316 | 56% |
| CUNY Hunter College | $2,984 | $11,000 | $63,163 | 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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15