by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New York, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **102** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 102 colleges using more than 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 Cornell University to be the best 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. Graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
Out of the 102 colleges in New York in this year's ranking, New York University landed the #2 spot. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. New York University posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,516. New York University students take on a median of $21,897 in debt.
Colgate University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New York. Set in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $70,306 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,924. Typical student debt is $16,286.
Out of the 102 colleges in New York in this year's ranking, Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #4 spot. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Median early-career earnings reach $86,770. Typical student debt is $23,258.
A rank of #5 makes Suny Downstate Medical Center one of the top colleges in New York. This public school is set in Brooklyn, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,822, compared with $19,662 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $100,079. Graduates carry a median of $24,882 in student loans.
Barnard College placed #6 among the best colleges in New York. Barnard College is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,790. The median student debt is $17,609.
Suny At Binghamton did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Vestal, NY. Suny At Binghamton posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete a degree here.
Hamilton College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,960. Hamilton College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,806. Typical student debt is $16,131.
University Of Rochester placed #9 among the best colleges in New York. Based in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. University Of Rochester graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,865. University Of Rochester students take on a median of $21,517 in debt.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $71,910. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,469. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete a degree here.
Marist College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Poughkeepsie, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,620. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,521 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,962.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute did well this year, earning the #12 position. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Troy, NY. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,078. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,378. Students borrow a median of $24,975 to complete a degree here.
Stony Brook University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Median early-career earnings reach $60,047. The median student debt is $20,537.
Syracuse University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Median early-career earnings reach $54,785. The median student debt is $26,130.
Fordham University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Bronx, NY, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,403. The median student debt is $25,643.
Yeshiva University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $51,800. Median early-career earnings reach $52,838. Yeshiva University students take on a median of $20,625 in debt.
Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing placed #17 among the best colleges in New York. Located in New York, NY, Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,450. Graduates go on to earn a median of $106,754 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,095 in student loans.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in New York, NY, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Median early-career earnings reach $29,250. Graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,515. Typical student debt is $27,491.
Skidmore College did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saratoga Springs, NY. Skidmore College posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,140. Median early-career earnings reach $34,440. The median student debt is $18,274.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public school based in New York, NY. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates 72% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Median early-career earnings reach $61,459. Typical student debt is $11,691.
University At Buffalo ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Buffalo, NY, University At Buffalo is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. University At Buffalo graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,403. University At Buffalo students take on a median of $22,232 in debt.
Vassar College placed #23 among the best colleges in New York. Located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $71,030. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,412. Students borrow a median of $18,486 to complete a degree here.
Siena College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Siena College is a private not-for-profit school based in Loudonville, NY. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,805. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,535. Students borrow a median of $26,656 to complete a degree here.
Union College New York landed the #25 spot in New York this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Schenectady, NY. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $69,039. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,020 early in their careers. Union College New York students take on a median of $25,869 in debt.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.