by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in New York, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **56** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 56 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Columbia University In The City Of New York to be the best graduate school in New York. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Graduates go on to earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Cornell University earned it the #2 place in New York. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Cornell University graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,976. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete a degree here.
Fordham University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in New York. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. Fordham University posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 56 graduate schools in New York in this year's ranking, Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #4 spot. Located in Brooklyn, NY, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,822, with out-of-state students paying around $19,662. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,079. Students borrow a median of $24,882 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at New York University earned it the #5 place in New York. Set in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,897.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Graduates go on to earn a median of $77,378 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,975.
Yeshiva University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in New York. Based 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,838. The median student debt is $20,625.
Syracuse University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set 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. The median student debt is $26,130.
University Of Rochester landed the #9 spot in New York this year. Located in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,865. Graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Suny At Binghamton is a public school based in Vestal, NY. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,766. Graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
Adelphi University landed the #11 spot in New York this year. Located in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Adelphi University graduates 67% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,775. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,037. The median student debt is $25,487.
Stony Brook University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set 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 run about $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,047. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete a degree here.
University At Buffalo placed #13 among the best graduate schools in New York. Set in Buffalo, NY, University At Buffalo is a public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students 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. Graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
St Johns University New York landed the #14 spot in New York this year. Based in Queens, NY, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,529. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,686. Graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans.
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in New York, NY, Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,822.
Weill Cornell Medical College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in New York, NY, Weill Cornell Medical College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, NY. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Median early-career earnings reach $63,515. Typical student debt is $27,491.
Albert Einstein College Of Medicine came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bronx, NY. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,053 early in their careers.
Upstate Medical University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Syracuse, NY, Upstate Medical University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,038 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,878 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,828. The median student debt is $24,909.
Hofstra University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hempstead, NY. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $57,660. Median early-career earnings reach $55,705. Typical student debt is $24,848.
Molloy College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $65,544. Students borrow a median of $27,420 to complete a degree here.
Marist College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Marist College is a private not-for-profit school based in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist College posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Marist College graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,521. Marist College students take on a median of $25,962 in debt.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in New York, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,235, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
Clarkson University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Potsdam, NY. Clarkson University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,398. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $74,144. Clarkson University students take on a median of $26,566 in debt.
Suny At Albany ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Albany, NY. Suny At Albany posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Suny At Albany graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,736. Suny At Albany students take on a median of $23,521 in debt.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.