by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New York, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **62** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 62 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found Yeshiva University to be the best college in New York. Set in New York, NY, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $51,800 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Fashion Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place in New York. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public school based in New York, NY. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $29,250. Graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at New York University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,516. The median student debt is $21,897.
Adelphi University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New York. Based in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,775. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,037. Graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Rochester Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place in New York. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,515. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete a degree here.
Culinary Institute Of America came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Hyde Park, NY, Culinary Institute Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Culinary Institute Of America posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,670. Median early-career earnings reach $35,043. Graduates carry a median of $22,257 in student loans.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Syracuse, NY, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a public institution. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,303, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263.
Helene Fuld College Of Nursing landed the #8 spot in New York this year. Set in New York, NY, Helene Fuld College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,852. Helene Fuld College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $105,822. The median student debt is $27,775.
Farmingdale State College did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale State College graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,374. Farmingdale State College students take on a median of $19,528 in debt.
St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Syracuse, NY, St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,816. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,048. Typical student debt is $19,279.
Dyouville College landed the #11 spot in New York this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Buffalo, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,940. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,550. Dyouville College students take on a median of $30,232 in debt.
The New School did well this year, earning the #12 position. The New School is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The New School posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,468. Students borrow a median of $24,460 to complete a degree here.
Suffolk County Community College placed #13 among the best colleges in New York. Suffolk County Community College is a public school based in Selden, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,667. Suffolk County Community College students take on a median of $11,246 in debt.
Excelsior College placed #14 among the best colleges in New York. Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school based in Albany, NY. Excelsior College graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,677. Graduates carry a median of $19,311 in student loans.
Molloy College landed the #15 spot in New York this year. Set in Rockville Centre, NY, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,790. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,544. The median student debt is $27,420.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Alfred, NY, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a public institution. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,721.
Trocaire College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Trocaire College is a private not-for-profit school based in Buffalo, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,640. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,090. Graduates carry a median of $21,588 in student loans.
Saint Elizabeth College Of Nursing Utica landed the #18 spot in New York this year. Located in Utica, NY, Saint Elizabeth College Of Nursing Utica is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,180, with out-of-state students paying around $30,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,036. Typical student debt is $25,125.
St Johns University New York ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Queens, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,686. Typical student debt is $25,521.
Nassau Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Garden City, NY, Nassau Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,734. Nassau Community College students take on a median of $11,850 in debt.
Touro College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Touro College is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,052. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,520. Touro College students take on a median of $20,285 in debt.
Pratt Institute Main placed #22 among the best colleges in New York. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit institution. Pratt Institute Main posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Median early-career earnings reach $38,569. Typical student debt is $25,103.
Cuny College Of Staten Island did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Staten Island, NY, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public institution. Cuny College Of Staten Island posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $51,911. The median student debt is $14,688.
Hudson Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Troy, NY, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Hudson Valley Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,989. Typical student debt is $12,868.
Lim College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in New York, NY, Lim College is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,504. Median early-career earnings reach $38,305. Graduates carry a median of $26,827 in student loans.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.