2026 Best Value Value Schools in New York
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/law-enforcement-intelligence-analysis/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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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
For return on investment in value, no school beat Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Value graduates carry a median of $14,475 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $57,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Farmingdale State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. In-state tuition and fees average $8,626, compared with $18,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,500. Value graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $38,789 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Farmingdale State College admits about 63% of applicants.
Utica College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,930. Students borrow a median of $27,237 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $69,701. Set against $27,237 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utica College admits about 92% of applicants.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
