2026 Best Value Value Schools in New York
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Monroe College Main Campus the best value for a degree in value in New York. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,464. Students borrow a median of $20,701 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Monroe College Main Campus earn a median of $40,329 early in their careers. Set against $20,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Value graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Value graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Utica College, which ranked #3. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. Students from in state pay about $26,930 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $27,237 in student loans. Value graduates of Utica College earn a median of $53,602 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,237 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at St Lawrence University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,900. Students borrow a median of $26,192 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from St Lawrence University generally make around $39,993. Set against $26,192 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Clarkson University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,398. Students borrow a median of $26,566 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Clarkson University earn a median of $74,144 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
New York University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Fordham University came in at #7 for value in value this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Value graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $59,403. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 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.
