by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in New York, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks 336 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 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 best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Cornell University this year in New York. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,976. Graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #2 place in New York. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Median early-career earnings reach $86,770. Typical student debt is $23,258.
New York University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in New York. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. 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 336 graduate schools in New York in this year's ranking, Colgate University landed the #4 spot. Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,306. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,924. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 336 graduate schools in New York in this year's ranking, Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #5 spot. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,822 in tuition and fees, 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.
Barnard College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. 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.
Hamilton College placed #7 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hamilton College posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,960. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,131.
University Of Rochester placed #8 among the best graduate schools in New York. Based in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $60,865. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete a degree here.
Fordham University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Bronx, NY, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,403. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete a degree here.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Vestal, NY, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $51,766. Typical student debt is $20,691.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $78,469. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America students take on a median of $16,750 in debt.
Yeshiva University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in New York, NY, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,800. Yeshiva University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,838. Yeshiva University students take on a median of $20,625 in debt.
Stony Brook University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,537.
Syracuse University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Median early-career earnings reach $54,785. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete a degree here.
Marist College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Poughkeepsie, NY, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,521. Graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, NY. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $77,378. Typical student debt is $24,975.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in New York, NY, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Early-career graduates earn a median of $29,250. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete a degree here.
Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing graduates 100% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Weill Cornell Medical College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in New York, NY, Weill Cornell Medical College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #20 spot in New York this year. This public school is set in New York, NY. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,459. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College students take on a median of $11,691 in debt.
Albert Einstein College Of Medicine landed the #21 spot in New York this year. Albert Einstein College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,053.
Skidmore College placed #22 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in Saratoga Springs, NY, Skidmore College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,140. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,440 early in their careers. The median student debt is $18,274.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #23 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,515. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete a degree here.
Vassar College placed #24 among the best graduate schools in New York. Located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,030. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,412. Vassar College students take on a median of $18,486 in debt.
Adelphi University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
See our data sources and methodologies.