It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in New York ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 109 schools in New York to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in New York earn an average starting salary of $39,555, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $44,903.
Starting Salary ( 33770 to 52085 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
Upon graduation, bachelor's degree recipients from schools in New York have accumulated an average of $23,635 in student debt.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Columbia University in the City of New York tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in New York for overall quality. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,654 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,764 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,581 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $567.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Cornell University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York. Cornell is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 4,287 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Cornell go into careers with an average salary of $54,196 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,079 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $570 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Located in New York, New York, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 6,752 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NYU is $43,918 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $21,345. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $754.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Fashion Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York. Located in New York, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,677 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from FIT SUNY make an average of $38,375 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,745 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $334.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in New York list means Colgate University is a great place for students working on their degree. Colgate is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hamilton, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 896 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Colgate make an average of $48,442 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,650.
Barnard College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in New York, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 676 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Barnard go into careers with an average salary of $42,928 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $18,076 after getting their degree.
University of Rochester came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. University of Rochester is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 2,035 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from University of Rochester make an average of $47,274 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,215 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $403 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. RPI is a private not-for-profit institution located in Troy, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,582 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from RPI make an average of $64,155 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,344 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $515.
Syracuse University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #9. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,193 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse make an average of $41,657 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,795 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $512 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Fordham University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Fordham University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 2,461 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Fordham U go into careers with an average salary of $42,218 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,063. This translates to an average monthly payment of $702 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Hamilton College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in Clinton, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 597 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Hamilton make an average of $43,033 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $16,548 in student loans.
The New School did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #12. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,469 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from New School University go into careers with an average salary of $27,585 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,077 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $782 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #13, Vassar College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Vassar is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Poughkeepsie, New York. It awarded 682 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Vassar make an average of $34,638 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $18,431. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $438.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. This fairly large public school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 3,357 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from John Jay make an average of $36,718 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $12,429. Average monthly loan payments are around $189 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Stony Brook University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. Stony Brook, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,185 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Stony Brook go into careers with an average salary of $43,475 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,121 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $156 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University at Buffalo ranked #16 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. University at Buffalo is a large public school located in Buffalo, New York that handed out 5,623 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from University at Buffalo make an average of $39,006 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,435 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $217.
Baruch College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. Baruch is located in New York, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,053 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,172 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $12,162.
With a ranking of #18, Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Rochester Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 2,565 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from RIT make an average of $53,848 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,408. Average monthly loan payments are around $428 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Clarkson University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Potsdam, New York, and it awarded 708 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Clarkson make an average of $59,834 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,353. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $496.
The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 762 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from The Graduate Center make an average of $59,018 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $19,384 in student loans.
With a ranking of #21, Skidmore College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Skidmore is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 671 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore is $34,832 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,533 in student loans.
Molloy College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Molloy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rockville Centre, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 736 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Molloy make an average of $42,365 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,652 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $522 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #23, Excelsior University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York list. Located in Albany, New York, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,053 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,433 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,135.
Binghamton University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large public school is located in Vestal, New York, and it awarded 4,004 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,995 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,277 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $280 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Hunter College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #25. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 3,597 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Hunter go into careers with an average salary of $35,708 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $11,397.
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%.
college factual
