2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 66 schools in New York to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in New York
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Excelsior College to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in New York.
On average, associate degree students take out $15,946 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Excelsior College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The excellent associate degree programs at New York University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York.
The average tuition and fees at NYU is $56,500. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,343 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that NYU does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The New School. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
If you want to attend New School University, expect to pay an average of $52,338 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,584 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that New School University does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at SUNY Empire State College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York.
Students from New York who attend SUNY Empire full time pay an average of $7,630 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,540. On average, associate degree students take out $17,977 in loans while pursuing their degree.
SUNY Empire does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at Rochester Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York.
If you want to attend RIT, expect to pay an average of $50,951 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at RIT. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bronx Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
Students from New York who attend BCC full time pay an average of $5,206 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,086. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,530 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
If you want to attend Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, expect to pay an average of $26,150 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology accumulate an average of $20,594 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.
Fashion Institute of Technology landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FIT SUNY is $7,793. Out-of-state students pay an average of $22,315. Associate Degree recipients from FIT SUNY accumulate an average of $12,831 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
FIT SUNY does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
LaGuardia Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.
Full-time students from New York pay an average of $5,218 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend LaGuardia. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,098. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,677 in student loans.
Online courses are available at LaGuardia, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, Monroe College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Monroe College, expect to pay an average of $16,686 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $16,720 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Monroe College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 37% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Paul Smith’s College, expect to pay an average of $31,115 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Paul Smith’s College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Nassau Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $6,330 in tuition and fees if they attend Nassau Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,130. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,974 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Nassau Community College. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Suffolk County Community College is $6,270. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,740. On average, associate degree students take out $11,129 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Suffolk County Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #14, Medgar Evers College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $7,352 in tuition and fees if they attend Medgar full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,302. Associate Degree recipients from Medgar accumulate an average of $13,300 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Medgar, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #15, Hudson Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from New York pay an average of $5,964 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend HVCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,764. Associate Degree recipients from HVCC accumulate an average of $13,973 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at HVCC. In fact, around 84% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, SUNY Cobleskill did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from New York pay an average of $8,676 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SUNY Cobleskill. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,586. Associate Degree recipients from SUNY Cobleskill accumulate an average of $13,165 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SUNY Cobleskill does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rockland Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Rockland Community College is $6,120. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,332. Associate Degree recipients from Rockland Community College accumulate an average of $12,073 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rockland Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 83% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,295. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $27,380 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Bryant & Stratton College - Online is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Touro College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
The average tuition and fees at Touro is $18,908. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Touro accumulate an average of $15,239 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Touro. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, Hostos Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from New York pay an average of $5,208 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Hostos. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,088. On average, associate degree students take out $12,520 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Hostos does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Adirondack Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SUNY Adirondack is $5,784. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,256. Associate Degree recipients from SUNY Adirondack accumulate an average of $10,842 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
SUNY Adirondack does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Borough of Manhattan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BMCC is $5,170. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,050. Associate Degree recipients from BMCC accumulate an average of $11,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that BMCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Orange County Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,094 in tuition and fees if they attend SUNY Orange full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,470. On average, associate degree students take out $16,360 in loans while pursuing their degree.
SUNY Orange does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Farmingdale State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
Students from New York who attend SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale full time pay an average of $8,576 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,486. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,882 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
Corning Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,966 in tuition and fees if they attend Corning Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,230. Associate Degree recipients from Corning Community College accumulate an average of $17,370 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Corning Community College. In fact, around 34% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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