2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools in New York

[Other Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/other-social-sciences/social-sciences-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools
Suny Empire State College tops our 2026 list of the best value other social sciences schools in New York. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Other Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Other Social Sciences graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #2 place for other social sciences. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Other Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $53,435. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The Sage Colleges is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Troy, The Sage Colleges is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,164 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other social sciences graduates is $26,865. Other Social Sciences graduates of The Sage Colleges earn a median of $27,436 early in their careers. Set against $26,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Rochester came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other social sciences schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Typical student debt for other social sciences graduates is $21,366. Soon after graduation, other social sciences degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $37,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other social sciences will find it at Bard College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,436 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,402 to complete the other social sciences program here. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $35,861. Set against $26,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value other social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Other Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,188 in student loans. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $35,772. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.