# Best Education Colleges in New York

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-new-york

## Methodology

Education programs in New York ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right education college in New York can be a pivotal decision for aspiring teachers and educators. With options ranging from private institutions to public colleges, understanding what these schools offer is essential for future success. For context, graduates from these programs can expect average earnings of $58,981 after graduation.

What sets the top education colleges apart is their focus on outcomes that matter, including graduation rates, earning potential, and manageable debt levels. The schools on this list have been ranked based on these key factors, which provide insight into the value of their education programs. As you explore these options, consider how each institution aligns with your career goals and financial situation.

Take Niagara University and SUNY College at Geneseo, for instance. Niagara University graduates earn $56,196 annually with a 72% graduation rate and a net price of $17,248. In contrast, Geneseo boasts higher earnings at $67,316 and the same graduation rate but comes with a slightly higher debt load of $19,500. This comparison highlights the different trade-offs that students might face when selecting a college, making it essential to weigh each school’s offerings carefully.

## Key Findings

- Niagara University graduates earn $56,196 annually and have a 72% graduation rate.
- CUNY Queens College has a low net price of $4,195 but a lower graduation rate of 56%.
- SUNY College at Geneseo offers the highest average earnings at $67,316 with a manageable debt of $19,500.
- The average graduation rate among the top education colleges in New York is 56%.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Niagara University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/niagara-university) | Niagara University, NY | 72% | $56,196 | $17,248 | $25,475 | 0.45x |
| 2 | [SUNY College at Geneseo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-at-geneseo) | Geneseo, NY | 72% | $67,316 | $18,211 | $19,500 | 0.29x |
| 3 | [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queens-college) | Queens, NY | 56% | $62,763 | $4,195 | $10,298 | 0.16x |
| 4 | [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 55% | $60,752 | $3,103 | $11,000 | 0.18x |
| 5 | [SUNY Oneonta](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-oneonta) | Oneonta, NY | 70% | $60,386 | $19,158 | $19,812 | 0.33x |
| 6 | [Boricua College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boricua-college) | New York, NY | 74% | $35,348 | $15,245 | $6,733 | 0.19x |
| 7 | [SUNY at Fredonia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-at-fredonia) | Fredonia, NY | 52% | $54,247 | $15,897 | $24,250 | 0.45x |
| 8 | [St. Joseph's University-New York](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-josephs-university-new-york) | Brooklyn, NY | 67% | $63,905 | $19,035 | $22,000 | 0.34x |
| 9 | [State University of New York at New Paltz](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-university-of-new-york-at-new-paltz) | New Paltz, NY | 70% | $58,073 | $18,809 | $18,750 | 0.32x |
| 10 | [Roberts Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roberts-wesleyan-university) | Rochester, NY | 65% | $55,031 | $23,130 | $23,750 | 0.43x |
| 11 | [SUNY Old Westbury](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-old-westbury) | Old Westbury, NY | 46% | $58,526 | $11,282 | $14,997 | 0.26x |
| 12 | [SUNY Buffalo State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-buffalo-state-university) | Buffalo, NY | 35% | $52,334 | $11,346 | $21,028 | 0.4x |
| 13 | [CUNY York College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-york-college) | Jamaica, NY | 31% | $56,945 | $4,456 | $11,000 | 0.19x |
| 14 | [State University of New York at Plattsburgh](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-university-of-new-york-at-plattsburgh) | Plattsburgh, NY | 59% | $56,403 | $17,156 | $21,196 | 0.38x |
| 15 | [State University of New York at Cortland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-university-of-new-york-at-cortland) | Cortland, NY | 68% | $60,236 | $22,345 | $21,500 | 0.36x |
| 16 | [SUNY Brockport](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-brockport) | Brockport, NY | 56% | $54,496 | $16,353 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 17 | [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-medgar-evers-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 21% | $46,498 | $5,718 | $10,988 | 0.24x |
| 18 | [Elmira College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elmira-college) | Elmira, NY | 64% | $57,550 | $22,386 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 19 | [CUNY City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-city-college) | New York, NY | 56% | $66,039 | $3,776 | $11,990 | 0.18x |
| 20 | [Canisius University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/canisius-university) | Buffalo, NY | 69% | $60,681 | $17,940 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 21 | [Keuka College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/keuka-college) | Keuka Park, NY | 53% | $58,289 | $24,338 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 22 | [Wagner College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wagner-college) | Staten Island, NY | 67% | $74,360 | $28,241 | $25,000 | 0.34x |
| 23 | [SUNY College at Potsdam](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-at-potsdam) | Potsdam, NY | 47% | $47,866 | $13,624 | $24,250 | 0.51x |
| 24 | [Houghton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/houghton-university) | Houghton, NY | 65% | $46,721 | $20,519 | $25,250 | 0.54x |
| 25 | [St Bonaventure University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-bonaventure-university) | Saint Bonaventure, NY | 68% | $57,214 | $27,074 | $26,000 | 0.45x |
| 26 | [Adelphi University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/adelphi-university) | Garden City, NY | 68% | $75,482 | $30,783 | $25,000 | 0.33x |
| 27 | [Alfred University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alfred-university) | Alfred, NY | 56% | $54,897 | $25,620 | $26,000 | 0.47x |
| 28 | [CUNY LaGuardia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-laguardia-community-college) | Long Island City, NY | 25% | $41,653 | $6,120 | $7,407 | 0.18x |
| 29 | [Ithaca College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ithaca-college) | Ithaca, NY | 75% | $63,548 | $33,926 | $24,000 | 0.38x |
| 30 | [Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mercy-university) | Dobbs Ferry, NY | 47% | $52,055 | $14,072 | $19,637 | 0.38x |
| 31 | [Utica University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/utica-university) | Utica, NY | 56% | $63,277 | $19,108 | $22,500 | 0.36x |
| 32 | [Iona University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iona-university) | New Rochelle, NY | 57% | $73,595 | $29,188 | $25,999 | 0.35x |
| 33 | [Marist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marist-university) | Poughkeepsie, NY | 80% | $77,819 | $41,544 | $25,000 | 0.32x |
| 34 | [Daemen University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/daemen-university) | Amherst, NY | 59% | $61,808 | $18,693 | $22,091 | 0.36x |
| 35 | [Siena College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/siena-college) | Loudonville, NY | 75% | $76,079 | $33,733 | $26,561 | 0.35x |
| 36 | [Hofstra University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hofstra-university) | Hempstead, NY | 68% | $69,039 | $34,176 | $23,621 | 0.34x |
| 37 | [State University of New York at Oswego](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-university-of-new-york-at-oswego) | Oswego, NY | 60% | $57,566 | $16,236 | $20,880 | 0.36x |
| 38 | [Long Island University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/long-island-university) | Brookville, NY | 56% | $59,950 | $33,062 | $23,577 | 0.39x |
| 39 | [University at Albany](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-at-albany) | Albany, NY | 63% | $67,979 | $17,167 | $19,500 | 0.29x |
| 40 | [Hartwick College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hartwick-college) | Oneonta, NY | 50% | $61,107 | $31,320 | $27,000 | 0.44x |
| 41 | [Manhattan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/manhattan-university) | Riverdale, NY | 65% | $86,316 | $27,256 | $26,000 | 0.3x |
| 42 | [College of Staten Island CUNY](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-staten-island-cuny) | Staten Island, NY | 33% | $53,501 | $5,579 | $14,350 | 0.27x |
| 43 | [St. Thomas Aquinas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-thomas-aquinas-college) | Sparkill, NY | 58% | $62,909 | $19,994 | $23,198 | 0.37x |
| 44 | [Molloy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/molloy-university) | Rockville Centre, NY | 71% | $77,789 | $24,347 | $27,000 | 0.35x |
| 45 | [St. John Fisher University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-john-fisher-university) | Rochester, NY | 74% | $66,944 | $28,945 | $23,250 | 0.35x |
| 46 | [Russell Sage College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/russell-sage-college) | Troy, NY | 59% | $58,316 | $22,917 | $22,000 | 0.38x |
| 47 | [St. Francis College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-francis-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 54% | $58,099 | $18,129 | $23,250 | 0.4x |
| 48 | [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-johns-university-new-york) | Queens, NY | 67% | $69,571 | $29,999 | $25,000 | 0.36x |
| 49 | [Empire State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/empire-state-university) | Saratoga Springs, NY | 34% | $54,080 | $11,676 | $18,730 | 0.35x |
| 50 | [CUNY Hostos Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hostos-community-college) | Bronx, NY | 17% | $40,485 | $5,297 | $8,442 | 0.21x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Education Colleges in New York." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-new-york

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.