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Best Schools in New York

2023 Best Schools in New York

128 Schools Ranked
$50,053 Average Earnings
$33,033 Avg Student Debt

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.

The Best Schools in New York ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 128 schools in New York to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Schools in New York

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
8,782 Total Awards
$75,976 Average Earnings
$67,230 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named Cornell University the best school in New York for students working on their degree. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 8,782 students in .

Degree recipients from Cornell accumulate an average of $67,230 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Cornell, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $75,976 during the early years of their career.

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#2

Colgate University

Hamilton, New York
943 Total Awards
$52,924 Average Earnings

Out of the 128 schools in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, Colgate University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Colgate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Hamilton, New York that handed out 943 degrees in .

During the early years of their career, Colgate graduates make an average of $52,924 annually.

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2,067 Total Awards
$68,822 Average Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Teachers College at Columbia University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Teachers College at Columbia University is a small private not-for-profit school located in New York, New York that handed out 2,067 degrees in .

After graduating from Teachers College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $68,822 during the early years of their career.

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#4

Excelsior University

Albany, New York
3,980 Total Awards
$70,677 Average Earnings
$16,258 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Excelsior University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Schools in New York list. Excelsior University is located in Albany, New York and has a fairly large student population. In , this school awarded 3,980 degrees to qualified students.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,258 in student loans.After graduating from Excelsior University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $70,677 during the early years of their career.

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#5

Barnard College

New York, New York
892 Total Awards
$50,790 Average Earnings

Out of the 128 schools in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, Barnard College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 892 degrees in .

Once they receive their degree, Barnard graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,790 during the early year of their career.

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#6

Hamilton College

Clinton, New York
620 Total Awards
$48,806 Average Earnings
$86,935 Avg Student Debt

Hamilton College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New York ranking. Located in Clinton, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 620 degrees in .

Degree recipients from Hamilton accumulate an average of $86,935 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Hamilton, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,806 during the early years of their career.

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#7

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, New York
2,712 Total Awards
$72,222 Average Earnings
$11,645 Avg Student Debt

The Graduate Center, CUNY ranked #7 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Located in New York, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,712 degrees in .

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,645 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, The Graduate Center graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $72,222 during the early year of their career.

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#8

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, New York
749 Total Awards
$37,412 Average Earnings

Vassar College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 749 degrees in .

After graduating from Vassar, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,412 during the early years of their career.

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17,316 Total Awards
$86,770 Average Earnings
$70,140 Avg Student Debt

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New York ranking. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17,316 degrees in .

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $70,140 in student loans.After graduating from Columbia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $86,770 during the early years of their career.

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1,876 Total Awards
$77,378 Average Earnings
$61,282 Avg Student Debt

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Troy, New York that handed out 1,876 degrees in .

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $61,282 in student loans. During the early years of their career, RPI graduates make an average of $77,378 annually.

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#11

Union College New York

Schenectady, New York
481 Total Awards
$52,020 Average Earnings

Union College New York ranked #11 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Schenectady, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 481 students in .

After graduating from Union College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,020 during the early years of their career.

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#12

New York University

New York, New York
22,340 Total Awards
$64,516 Average Earnings
$91,745 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #12, New York University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working. NYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 22,340 degrees in .

Degree recipients from NYU accumulate an average of $91,745 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NYU graduates make an average of $64,516 annually.

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#13

Wagner College

Staten Island, New York
535 Total Awards
$80,067 Average Earnings
$61,929 Avg Student Debt

Wagner College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Located in Staten Island, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 535 degrees in .

On average, students take out $61,929 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Wagner, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $80,067 during the early years of their career.

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#14

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York
4,369 Total Awards
$60,865 Average Earnings
$43,487 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #14, University of Rochester did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working. University of Rochester is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 4,369 degrees in .

Degree recipients from University of Rochester accumulate an average of $43,487 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, University of Rochester graduates make an average of $60,865 annually.

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#15

Ithaca College

Ithaca, New York
1,511 Total Awards
$38,328 Average Earnings
$78,194 Avg Student Debt

Ithaca College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #15 on the list. Ithaca is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,511 degrees in .

On average, students take out $78,194 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Ithaca graduates make an average of $38,328 annually.

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#16

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
7,441 Total Awards
$54,785 Average Earnings
$57,307 Avg Student Debt

Syracuse University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #16 on the list. Syracuse is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Syracuse, New York. It awarded 7,441 degrees in .

Degree recipients from Syracuse accumulate an average of $57,307 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Syracuse, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,785 during the early years of their career.

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#17

Clarkson University

Potsdam, New York
1,205 Total Awards
$74,144 Average Earnings
$57,618 Avg Student Debt

Clarkson University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list. Potsdam, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,205 students in .

Degree recipients from Clarkson accumulate an average of $57,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Clarkson graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $74,144 during the early year of their career.

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#19

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, New York
1,886 Total Awards
$60,521 Average Earnings
$65,792 Avg Student Debt

Marist College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Marist College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Poughkeepsie, New York that handed out 1,886 degrees in .

Degree recipients from Marist accumulate an average of $65,792 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Marist graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,521 during the early year of their career.

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#20

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York
3,737 Total Awards
$63,515 Average Earnings
$47,592 Avg Student Debt

Rochester Institute of Technology ranked #20 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Located in Rochester, New York, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,737 diplomas to qualifed students in .

Degree recipients from RIT accumulate an average of $47,592 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, RIT graduates make an average of $63,515 annually.

Full Rochester Institute of Technology Report

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#21

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, New York
725 Total Awards
$34,440 Average Earnings

Skidmore College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Schools in New York list. Skidmore is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 725 degrees in .

Once they receive their degree, Skidmore graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,440 during the early year of their career.

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#22

Molloy College

Rockville Centre, New York
1,329 Total Awards
$65,544 Average Earnings
$47,089 Avg Student Debt

Molloy College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in Rockville Centre, New York, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,329 diplomas to qualifed students in .

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $47,089 in student loans.After graduating from Molloy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,544 during the early years of their career.

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#23

Siena College

Loudonville, New York
965 Total Awards
$44,535 Average Earnings
$56,154 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #23, Siena College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working. Siena is a private not-for-profit institution located in Loudonville, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 965 degrees in .

Degree recipients from Siena accumulate an average of $56,154 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Siena graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,535 during the early year of their career.

Full Siena College Report

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#24

St. John Fisher College

Rochester, New York
1,027 Total Awards
$55,630 Average Earnings
$47,484 Avg Student Debt

St. John Fisher College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Located in Rochester, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,027 degrees in .

Degree recipients from Fisher accumulate an average of $47,484 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Fisher graduates make an average of $55,630 annually.

Full St. John Fisher College Report

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#25

Fordham University

Bronx, New York
5,749 Total Awards
$59,403 Average Earnings
$78,250 Avg Student Debt

Fordham University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New York ranking. Fordham U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bronx, New York. It awarded 5,749 degrees in .

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $78,250 in student loans.After graduating from Fordham U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,403 during the early years of their career.

Full Fordham University Report

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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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