Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
As high school students in the Class of 2027 begin narrowing down their college choices ahead of application season, many New York families are looking for public universities that offer the best value — balancing affordability with strong career outcomes.
College costs remain a major concern. Since 2005, tuition has increased 93% nationwide, outpacing inflation by 41%, according to the Education Data Initiative.
While public colleges are generally less expensive than private institutions, tuition alone doesn’t determine a school’s value. Graduation rates, future earnings, financial aid and career opportunities also play a major role, according to SmartAsset, a financial technology company.
The Education Data Initiative reports that the average tuition at a public four-year college was $10,340 during the 2025-26 academic year, compared with $39,307 at private universities. With student loan repayment resuming and the job market remaining a key consideration, many prospective students are weighing return on investment more carefully than ever.
A new SmartAsset analysis ranked the best-value public colleges and universities in the country, and eight New York schools landed in the top 50.
Here’s which NY colleges made the list.
NY has the nation’s largest public university systems
New York is home to the country’s largest public higher education systems: the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY).
SUNY operates 64 campuses across the state, offering everything from community colleges and liberal arts schools to research universities, medical schools and technology-focused institutions.
CUNY includes 26 colleges throughout New York City’s five boroughs, with nationally recognized programs in fields including journalism, public health, education and criminal justice.
According to SUNY, the average annual cost of attendance for NY residents is about $25,500 for students living on campus and about $14,000 for commuters. Out-of-state students typically pay about $36,000.
At CUNY, costs are generally lower because many students commute. The average annual cost of attendance is about $19,800 for in-state commuters, while students living on campus can expect to pay about $36,000. Out-of-state residential students pay about $40,000.
How SmartAsset ranked the public universities
SmartAsset analyzed more than 500 public colleges and universities that award bachelor’s degrees.
Schools were evaluated using factors including:
- Cost of attendance
- Tuition and fees
- Federal Title IV financial aid
- Six-year graduation rate
- Median earnings 10 years after first enrollment for students who received federal financial aid
Top five best-value public colleges in the U.S.
- University of Florida
- Purdue University
- Baruch College
- Cal Poly Pomona
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Best-value public New York colleges
| School | Cost of attendance | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baruch College | $14,170 | 72% | $75,971 |
| Farmingdale State College | $18,966 | 55% | $69,781 |
| City College of New York | $14,403 | 56% | $66,039 |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | $23,741 | 57% | $64,355 |
| Hunter College | $13,905 | 59% | $63,163 |
| Queens College | $14,367 | 56% | $62,763 |
| Brooklyn College | $14,151 | 55% | $60,752 |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice | $14,212 | 56% | $56,195 |
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
