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
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in New York. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,250. Value graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $58,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $13,895 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $57,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $57,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Empire State College earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Value graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Albany earned it the #5 place for value. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Value graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $61,642. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $89,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,757 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $46,023. Set against $24,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan College Of New York earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of New York, Metropolitan College Of New York is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,188. Typical student debt for value graduates is $42,218. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Metropolitan College Of New York generally make around $49,765. Set against $42,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan College Of New York admits about 90% of applicants.
Cornell University earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $61,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
New York University placed #11 among the best values for value. 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. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from New York University generally make around $82,887. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Marist College came in at #12 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,620. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $84,712. That is a strong return on a $25,962 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Syracuse University came in at #13 for value in value this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $68,350. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 27 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.
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
