2026 Best Best Schools in New York
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for best students.
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Best Schools for Best in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in New York.
Top Schools in Best
No school ranked higher than Columbia University In The City Of New York this year for best. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 208 best degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in best from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 36 best degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes New York University one of the top schools for best. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 339 best students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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Clarkson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Clarkson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Clarkson University earn around $74,144 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,566 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Utica College, which ranked #5. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Utica College awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Utica College earn a median of $53,602 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,237 to complete this degree.
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St Lawrence University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at St Lawrence University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $39,993 in their early career. St Lawrence University graduates carry a median of $26,192 in student loans.
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Monroe College Main Campus placed #7 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 best students who graduated with this degree at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,329 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,701 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.
- 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.
