2027 Best Value General Education Schools in New York
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general education schools.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
Suny Empire State College tops our 2027 list of the best value general education schools in New York. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $21,422. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $39,046. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, compared with $8,098 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. Students borrow a median of $8,224 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $35,768. Set against $8,224 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Mercy College one of the best values for general education. 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. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $28,304. General Education graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $61,432 early in their careers. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Niagara University one of the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,345 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,208 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Niagara University generally make around $51,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College placed #6 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,450. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $24,700. Early-career general education graduates make about $44,519. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Thomas Aquinas College admits about 93% of applicants.
College Of Mount Saint Vincent came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Bronx, College Of Mount Saint Vincent is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,540. Students borrow a median of $26,385 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from College Of Mount Saint Vincent generally make around $58,239. That is a strong return on a $26,385 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University At Buffalo landed the #8 spot for general education value this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $22,232. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $46,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Colgate University came in at #9 for value in general education this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,306. General Education graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans. General Education graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Set against $16,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colgate University admits about 14% of applicants.
Barnard College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $17,609. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Set against $17,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Adelphi University placed #11 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,775. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,487. General Education graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $26,228 early in their careers. Set against $25,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Hobart William Smith Colleges placed #12 among the best values for general education. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,928 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,000. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,384. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Hobart William Smith Colleges admits about 64% of applicants.
New York University placed #13 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. General Education graduates carry a median of $21,375 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $60,354. That is a strong return on a $21,375 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Vassar College placed #15 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,030. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $18,486. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $37,412. That is a strong return on a $18,486 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
