2026 Best Value Value Schools in New York
[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/energy-systems/energy-systems-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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
Our analysis ranked Cuny Laguardia Community College the best value for a degree in value in New York. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Value graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New York Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,560. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,435. Early-career value graduates make about $98,934. Set against $25,435 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
