2026 Best Value Value Schools in New York
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Suffolk County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in New York. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Value graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Ulster County Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,666, compared with $12,146 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $12,854 in student loans. Value graduates of Ulster County Community College earn a median of $37,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Value graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans. Value graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $50,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Genesee Community College one of the best values for value. Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Batavia. Students from in state pay about $5,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,991. Early-career value graduates make about $40,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Suny Westchester Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Students borrow a median of $8,764 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Students from in state pay about $8,892 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,500. Value graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $36,293 early in their careers. Set against $14,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton came in at #7 for value in value this year. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $8,742, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,310. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Canton generally make around $37,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Mercy College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,880 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $61,432. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,772, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Value graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi generally make around $37,771. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,211. Value graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $61,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
