2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in New York
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/social-sciences-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general social sciences schools.
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2026 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
For return on investment in general social sciences, no school beat Suny Empire State College this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Erie Community College earned it the #2 place for general social sciences. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt.
Mercy College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. 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. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $36,726. Set against $26,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Rockland Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,862. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Rockland Community College earn a median of $41,799 early in their careers. Set against $11,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. 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. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
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. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $28,844. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #7 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,450. Students borrow a median of $24,700 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $44,519. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Thomas Aquinas College admits about 93% of applicants.
Mount Saint Mary College landed the #8 spot for general social sciences value this year. Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $43,450. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Mount Saint Mary College earn a median of $65,715 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt came in at #9 for value in general social sciences this year. Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Orangeburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Adelphi University landed the #10 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,775 in tuition and fees. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,593 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $51,037. That is a strong return on a $26,593 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Students borrow a median of $33,937 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Touro College earn a median of $40,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,937 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
Bard College landed the #12 spot for general social sciences value this year. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,436. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Bard College earn a median of $23,302 early in their careers. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bard College admits about 52% of applicants.
New York University came in at #13 for value in general social sciences this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $49,016. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #14 among the best values for general social sciences. Located in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,870. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,594 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $30,533 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
More General Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
