2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in New York
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for general social sciences students.
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2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Suny Empire State College, our #1 best value for general social sciences in New York. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Erie Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the general social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $37,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Suffern. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,862. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $41,799. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.
Mercy College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,880. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $36,726. Set against $26,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place for general social sciences. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences 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. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo placed #6 among the best values for general social sciences. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $28,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Mount Saint Mary College placed #7 among the best values for general social sciences. Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,450. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Mount Saint Mary College generally make around $65,715. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,052 in tuition and fees. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $33,937 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $40,111. Set against $33,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
Adelphi University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,775 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $26,593. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $51,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Adelphi University admits about 66% of applicants.
Bard College landed the #10 spot for general social sciences value this year. Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,436. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $23,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bard College admits about 52% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #11 among the best values for general social sciences. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,594. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $30,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
New York University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from New York University generally make around $49,016. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Orangeburg, Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,220. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $27,000. General Social Sciences graduates of Dominican College Of Blauvelt earn a median of $28,351 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Dominican College Of Blauvelt admits about 63% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
