2021 Best Colleges for the Money (With No Aid) in New York
Trying to decide what college is best for you is no easy matter. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best New York Schools For The Money For Those With No Aid ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 113 schools, we came up with our list of those that were the best for overall value for the money with no aid in New York. Quality is an important component in this ranking, so it is not just naming the schools with the cheapest price tag. Instead, it is identifying those institutions that offer the most value when taking their educational quality into consideration. So it is possible that College A may rank better than College B, while College B is less expensive to attend.
Find out more about our ranking methodology.
When determining average cost, we look at total expenses, such as tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other living expenses. This gives a rough estimation of how much money you can expect to pay out-of-pocket or through loans each year.
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Top Colleges for the Money (Without Aid) in New York
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
SUNY Geneseo tops this year’s ranking as the best school for overall value for the money with no aid in New York. SUNY Geneseo is a medium-sized public school located in Geneseo, New York that handed out 1,408 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes about 4.1 years for the average student at SUNY Geneseo to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $26,454 for students who receive no aid. This means that the average student pays around $108,990 to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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Out of the 113 schools in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, Binghamton University landed the #2 spot on the list. Binghamton University is a public institution located in Vestal, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,888 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes about 4.1 years for the average student at Binghamton University to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $28,269 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University is $116,751. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Binghamton University also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges in New York ranking.
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A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money in New York list means Stony Brook University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Stony Brook, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,945 students in 2018-2019.
The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at SUNY Stony Brook is 4.3 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $27,221. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Stony Brook is $117,323. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SUNY Stony Brook also is in the top 20% of our Best Colleges in New York ranking.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University at Buffalo. It ranked #4 on our 2021 Best Value Colleges in New York list. University at Buffalo is a large public school situated in Buffalo, New York. It awarded 5,273 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The average student at University at Buffalo graduates in less than 4.2 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $28,666. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from University at Buffalo is $121,257. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. On top of its placing in our value rankings, University at Buffalo also did well on our Best Colleges in New York list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SUNY Oneonta. The school came in at #5 in New York on this year’s best value ranking. SUNY Oneonta is a public institution located in Oneonta, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,527 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes about 4.2 years for the average student at SUNY Oneonta to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $25,782 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the SUNY Oneonta is $107,769. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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With a ranking of #6, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. Located in Syracuse, New York, the small public school awarded 459 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
It takes about 4.2 years for the average student at SUNY - ESF to complete their degree, and it costs students who receive no aid about $29,665 per year to attend the school. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the SUNY - ESF is $123,703. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SUNY - ESF also is in the top 20% of our Best Colleges in New York ranking.
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SUNY New Paltz came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. Located in New Paltz, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,925 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at SUNY New Paltz is 4.2 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $26,230 for students who receive no aid. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz be around $111,478. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
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SUNY Polytechnic Institute ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. SUNY Poly is located in Utica, New York and has a small student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 526 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
It takes the average student at SUNY Poly about 4.3 years to graduate, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $24,921 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Poly is $106,163. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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SUNY Cortland came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. SUNY Cortland is a public institution located in Cortland, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,560 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At SUNY Cortland, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.3 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $25,744 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the SUNY Cortland is $110,184. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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University at Albany came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. UAlbany is located in Albany, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 3,525 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The average student at UAlbany graduates in less than 4.2 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $27,136 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from UAlbany is $112,886. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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SUNY Fredonia ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. SUNY Fredonia is a small public school located in Fredonia, New York that handed out 955 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At SUNY Fredonia, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.3 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $23,969 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia is $102,587. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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SUNY Oswego did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges in New York ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized public school is located in Oswego, New York, and it awarded 1,806 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At SUNY Oswego, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.2 years, and it costs students who receive no aid about $25,507 per year to attend the school. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the SUNY Oswego is $108,150. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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With a ranking of #13, SUNY Plattsburgh did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. SUNY Plattsburgh is located in Plattsburgh, New York and has a medium-sized student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 1,538 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
It takes about 4.3 years for the average student at SUNY Plattsburgh to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $26,662 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh is $114,113. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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The College at Brockport landed the #14 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges in New York ranking. SUNY Brockport is located in Brockport, New York and has a medium-sized student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 1,985 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
It takes about 4.3 years for the average student at SUNY Brockport to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $25,382 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport is $108,889. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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SUNY Maritime College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. SUNY Maritime College is a small public school located in Throggs Neck, New York that handed out 383 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes the average student at SUNY Maritime about 4.4 years to graduate, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $26,864. This means that the average student pays around $119,008 to get a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Maritime. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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CUNY Hunter College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 3,496 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at Hunter is 4.6 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $24,158 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from Hunter is $111,852. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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With a ranking of #17, SUNY Potsdam did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. SUNY Potsdam is a public institution located in Potsdam, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 708 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The average student at SUNY Potsdam graduates in less than 4.3 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $25,257 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam is about $109,868. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
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Purchase College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. This small public school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 981 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At Purchase College, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.2 years, and it costs students who receive no aid about $28,021 per year to attend the school. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from Purchase College is about $117,128. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges in New York ranking, coming in at #19. Baruch is located in New York, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 3,824 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
At Baruch, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.5 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $33,283. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from Baruch is $149,774. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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SUNY Delhi came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. Located in Delhi, New York, the small public school handed out 485 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At SUNY Delhi, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.4 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $24,960 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Delhi is about $110,323. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.
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Farmingdale State College landed the #21 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges in New York ranking. Located in Farmingdale, New York, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,850 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is 4.5 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $25,156 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is about $112,699. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
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Canisius College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 721 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The average student at Canisius graduates in less than 4.1 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $43,454 for students who receive no aid. This means that the average student pays around $177,727 to get a bachelor’s degree from Canisius. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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CUNY Queens College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. Queens is a public institution located in Queens, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,873 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes the average student at Queens about 4.6 years to graduate, and it costs students who receive no aid about $29,508 per year to attend the school. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from Queens be around $134,852. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
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Alfred State College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in New York ranking. Alfred State is a small public school situated in Alfred, New York. It awarded 410 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
It takes about 4.3 years for the average student at Alfred State to complete their degree, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $26,211 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from Alfred State is $111,659. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.
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St. John Fisher College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in New York list. St. John Fisher College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 761 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
At Fisher, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.1 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $50,300. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from Fisher is $208,242. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- For our state-specific rankings, we use in-state tuition to calculate average cost. For our national and regional rankings, we use a weighted average of in-state and non-resident tuition.
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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