# Most Affordable Colleges in New York

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-new-york

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in New York

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 a college in New York can be daunting, especially when balancing quality education with affordability. With many institutions to consider, it’s essential to focus on those that provide value without overwhelming debt. For instance, the average net price of the schools on this list is just under $3,100, making higher education more accessible for families navigating tight budgets.

The schools featured here stand out for their combination of low net prices, reasonable debt levels, and solid graduation rates. When examining this data, it's important to look at not just the costs but also potential earnings post-graduation and the likelihood of completing a degree. For example, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College shows impressive earnings of $75,971, coupled with a strong graduation rate of 72%, indicating a significant return on investment for students.

Consider CUNY Hunter College, which has a net price of $2,984, but a lower graduation rate of 59%. In contrast, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, while slightly more expensive at $3,033, offers a higher graduation rate. This kind of tradeoff is crucial as families weigh the balance between cost and the potential for successful outcomes after college. Understanding these nuances can help in making a more informed decision.

## Key Findings

- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads with $75,971 in earnings and a 72% graduation rate.
- CUNY Hunter College has the lowest net price at $2,984 but a 59% graduation rate.
- The average debt among the top five schools is around $11,000.
- Overall, average earnings for graduates from these colleges stand at $46,316.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hunter-college) | New York, NY | 59% | $63,163 | $2,984 | $11,000 | 0.17x |
| 2 | [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college) | New York, NY | 72% | $75,971 | $3,033 | $11,512 | 0.15x |
| 3 | [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 55% | $60,752 | $3,103 | $11,000 | 0.18x |
| 4 | [CUNY Lehman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-lehman-college) | Bronx, NY | 50% | $58,013 | $3,148 | $10,950 | 0.19x |
| 5 | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice) | New York, NY | 56% | $56,195 | $3,203 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 6 | [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queens-college) | Queens, NY | 56% | $62,763 | $4,195 | $10,298 | 0.16x |
| 7 | [CUNY York College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-york-college) | Jamaica, NY | 31% | $56,945 | $4,456 | $11,000 | 0.19x |
| 8 | [CUNY City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-city-college) | New York, NY | 56% | $66,039 | $3,776 | $11,990 | 0.18x |
| 9 | [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-medgar-evers-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 21% | $46,498 | $5,718 | $10,988 | 0.24x |
| 10 | [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology) | Brooklyn, NY | 20% | $49,365 | $5,127 | $10,533 | 0.21x |
| 11 | [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 |
| 12 | [CUNY Bronx Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-bronx-community-college) | Bronx, NY | 17% | $41,307 | $4,462 | $8,384 | 0.2x |
| 13 | [Ulster County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ulster-county-community-college) | Stone Ridge, NY | 32% | $41,896 | $5,035 | $10,000 | 0.24x |
| 14 | [CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-borough-of-manhattan-community-college) | New York, NY | 25% | $42,306 | $4,976 | $7,574 | 0.18x |
| 15 | [Suffolk County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suffolk-county-community-college) | Selden, NY | 27% | $49,907 | $5,258 | $8,250 | 0.17x |
| 16 | [CUNY Queensborough Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queensborough-community-college) | Bayside, NY | 23% | $44,214 | $4,458 | $8,600 | 0.19x |
| 17 | [United States Merchant Marine Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-states-merchant-marine-academy) | Kings Point, NY | 81% | $90,610 | $6,174 | $8,833 | 0.1x |
| 18 | [Monroe Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/monroe-community-college) | Rochester, NY | 25% | $40,174 | $6,353 | $9,750 | 0.24x |
| 19 | [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 |
| 20 | [CUNY Hostos Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hostos-community-college) | Bronx, NY | 17% | $40,485 | $5,297 | $8,442 | 0.21x |
| 21 | [Orange County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/orange-county-community-college) | Middletown, NY | 24% | $44,117 | $6,794 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 22 | [CUNY Kingsborough Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-kingsborough-community-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 25% | $42,621 | $5,606 | $7,100 | 0.17x |
| 23 | [Fulton-Montgomery Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fulton-montgomery-community-college) | Johnstown, NY | 37% | $39,535 | $6,696 | $12,125 | 0.31x |
| 24 | [Niagara County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/niagara-county-community-college) | Sanborn, NY | 31% | $42,285 | $6,876 | $11,039 | 0.26x |
| 25 | [Talmudical Seminary of Bobov](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/talmudical-seminary-of-bobov) | Brooklyn, NY | 41% | $22,432 | $2,840 | N/A | N/A |
| 26 | [Nassau Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nassau-community-college) | Garden City, NY | 23% | $48,248 | $7,095 | $10,500 | 0.22x |
| 27 | [Columbia-Greene Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-greene-community-college) | Hudson, NY | 40% | $44,441 | $6,559 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 28 | [Erie Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/erie-community-college) | Buffalo, NY | 28% | $41,228 | $7,765 | $9,250 | 0.22x |
| 29 | [Genesee Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/genesee-community-college) | Batavia, NY | 30% | $39,674 | $8,334 | $11,622 | 0.29x |
| 30 | [Hudson Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hudson-valley-community-college) | Troy, NY | 34% | $45,460 | $8,501 | $10,625 | 0.23x |
| 31 | [SUNY Corning Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-corning-community-college) | Corning, NY | 33% | $38,817 | $7,373 | $12,000 | 0.31x |
| 32 | [Onondaga Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/onondaga-community-college) | Syracuse, NY | 26% | $41,190 | $8,562 | $10,000 | 0.24x |
| 33 | [SUNY Broome Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-broome-community-college) | Binghamton, NY | 23% | $39,710 | $8,940 | $12,000 | 0.3x |
| 34 | [Schenectady County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/schenectady-county-community-college) | Schenectady, NY | 31% | $40,902 | $8,947 | $11,049 | 0.27x |
| 35 | [SUNY Buffalo State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-buffalo-state-university) | Buffalo, NY | 35% | $52,334 | $11,346 | $21,028 | 0.4x |
| 36 | [SUNY Westchester Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-westchester-community-college) | Valhalla, NY | 24% | $46,822 | $9,373 | $10,400 | 0.22x |
| 37 | [Sullivan County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sullivan-county-community-college) | Loch Sheldrake, NY | 28% | $38,354 | $8,482 | $10,150 | 0.26x |
| 38 | [Cayuga County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cayuga-county-community-college) | Auburn, NY | 32% | $38,709 | $8,662 | $12,000 | 0.31x |
| 39 | [Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/uta-mesivta-of-kiryas-joel) | Monroe, NY | 74% | $31,853 | $4,156 | N/A | N/A |
| 40 | [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/farmingdale-state-college) | Farmingdale, NY | 55% | $69,781 | $10,867 | $14,718 | 0.21x |
| 41 | [Dutchess Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dutchess-community-college) | Poughkeepsie, NY | 29% | $43,929 | $10,065 | $10,039 | 0.23x |
| 42 | [Jamestown Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jamestown-community-college) | Jamestown, NY | 37% | $38,242 | $9,850 | $10,990 | 0.29x |
| 43 | [Mohawk Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mohawk-valley-community-college) | Utica, NY | 36% | $39,850 | $8,987 | $11,000 | 0.28x |
| 44 | [Clinton Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clinton-community-college) | Plattsburgh, NY | 28% | $39,246 | $9,112 | $13,250 | 0.34x |
| 45 | [Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kehilath-yakov-rabbinical-seminary) | Ossining, NY | 54% | $36,442 | $3,822 | N/A | N/A |
| 46 | [Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/beer-yaakov-talmudic-seminary) | Spring Valley, NY | 56% | $17,360 | $4,543 | N/A | N/A |
| 47 | [SUNY Old Westbury](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-old-westbury) | Old Westbury, NY | 46% | $58,526 | $11,282 | $14,997 | 0.26x |
| 48 | [Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mesivta-torah-vodaath-rabbinical-seminary) | Brooklyn, NY | 34% | N/A | $4,876 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Rockland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rockland-community-college) | Suffern, NY | 29% | $50,243 | $11,282 | $8,497 | 0.17x |
| 50 | [United Talmudical Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-talmudical-seminary) | Brooklyn, NY | 58% | $25,113 | $6,640 | N/A | N/A |

## 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. "Most Affordable Colleges in New York." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-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/.