by our College Data Analytics TeamCornell University ranks #1 of 159 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in New York ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 85% six-year graduation rate and $88,303 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in New York, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **159** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 159 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.
Cornell University leads the 159 ranked colleges in New York, followed by New York University (#2) and Colgate University (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 college in New York. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Median early-career earnings reach $75,976. Cornell University students take on a median of $15,005 in debt.
Out of the 159 colleges in New York in this year's ranking, New York University landed the #2 spot. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Median early-career earnings reach $64,516. Graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
Out of the 159 colleges in New York in this year's ranking, Colgate University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hamilton, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,306. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $16,286.
The strong outcomes at Suny Downstate Medical Center earned it the #4 place in New York. This public school is set in Brooklyn, NY. Students from in state pay about $7,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,662 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $100,079. Students borrow a median of $24,882 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 159 colleges in New York in this year's ranking, Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #5 spot. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Median early-career earnings reach $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete a degree here.
Barnard College landed the #6 spot in New York this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,888. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,790. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete a degree here.
Hamilton College placed #7 among the best colleges in New York. Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit school based in Clinton, NY. Hamilton College posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,960. Median early-career earnings reach $48,806. Graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
University Of Rochester did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Median early-career earnings reach $60,865. The median student debt is $21,517.
Suny At Binghamton did well this year, earning the #9 position. Suny At Binghamton is a public school based in Vestal, NY. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,766. The median student debt is $20,691.
Marist College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,620. Median early-career earnings reach $60,521. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete a degree here.
Stony Brook University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,047. Typical student debt is $20,537.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #12 spot in New York this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, NY. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,078. Median early-career earnings reach $77,378. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students take on a median of $24,975 in debt.
Syracuse University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,785. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete a degree here.
Fordham University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,403. Fordham University students take on a median of $25,643 in debt.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America landed the #15 spot in New York this year. Based in New York, NY, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America graduates 90% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,910. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,469. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America students take on a median of $16,750 in debt.
Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing placed #16 among the best colleges in New York. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing posts a six-year graduation rate of 100%. Students from in state pay about $46,450 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $106,754. Students borrow a median of $24,095 to complete a degree here.
Yeshiva University landed the #17 spot in New York this year. Located in New York, NY, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $51,800 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,838. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete a degree here.
Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #18 among the best colleges in New York. This public school is set in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $29,250. Graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in New York, NY, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,459. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete a degree here.
Vassar College landed the #20 spot in New York this year. Set in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $71,030 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,412. Students borrow a median of $18,486 to complete a degree here.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best colleges in New York. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,515. Graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans.
University At Buffalo placed #22 among the best colleges in New York. This public school is set in Buffalo, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Median early-career earnings reach $52,403. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete a degree here.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #23 spot in New York this year. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,235, compared with $15,185 for out-of-state students. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,222. Typical student debt is $17,921.
Siena College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Siena College is a private not-for-profit school based in Loudonville, NY. Siena College graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,805. Siena College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,535. Siena College students take on a median of $26,656 in debt.
Skidmore College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saratoga Springs, NY. About 83% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,140. Median early-career earnings reach $34,440. Typical student debt is $18,274.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 159 in New York. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.