by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in New York, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **34** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 34 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Cornell University to be the best graduate school in New York. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,976. The median student debt is $15,005.
A rank of #2 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top graduate schools in New York. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at New York University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. New York University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,516. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 34 graduate schools in New York in this year's ranking, Fordham University landed the #4 spot. Located in Bronx, NY, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,403. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Rochester one of the top graduate schools in New York. Located in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. University Of Rochester graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,865. Typical student debt is $21,517.
Weill Cornell Medical College placed #6 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in New York, NY, Weill Cornell Medical College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Troy, NY. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,378. Typical student debt is $24,975.
Syracuse University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,785. The median student debt is $26,130.
Yeshiva University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in New York, NY, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,800. Median early-career earnings reach $52,838. Graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Suny At Binghamton is a public school based 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, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
Albert Einstein College Of Medicine landed the #11 spot in New York this year. Located in Bronx, NY, Albert Einstein College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,053 early in their careers.
Stony Brook University landed the #12 spot in New York this year. This public school is set in Stony Brook, NY. About 76% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $60,047. Typical student debt is $20,537.
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in New York, NY, Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $77,434.
Clarkson University landed the #14 spot in New York this year. Based in Potsdam, NY, Clarkson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Clarkson University graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $59,398. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,144 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,566.
Hofstra University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Hofstra University graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Hofstra University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,705. The median student debt is $24,848.
Adelphi University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Garden City, NY. Adelphi University graduates 67% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $48,775 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,037 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,487.
University At Buffalo did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Buffalo, NY. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,403. Typical student debt is $22,232.
St Johns University New York ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit school based in Queens, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $53,529 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,686 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,521.
Upstate Medical University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Syracuse, NY, Upstate Medical University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,038, compared with $19,878 for out-of-state students. Upstate Medical University graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,828. Graduates carry a median of $24,909 in student loans.
Rochester Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #20 position. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,515. Graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America placed #21 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in New York, NY, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,910. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,469. Graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
Teachers College At Columbia University placed #22 among the best graduate schools in New York. Set in New York, NY, Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $68,822.
Molloy College placed #23 among the best graduate schools in New York. Based in Rockville Centre, NY, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. Molloy College graduates 70% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,790 in tuition and fees. Molloy College graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,544. Typical student debt is $27,420.
Albany Medical College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Albany, NY, Albany Medical College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $140,905.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public school based in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,235, with out-of-state students paying around $15,185. Median early-career earnings reach $72,222. The median student debt is $17,921.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.