Best Value Economics Colleges in New York

The City University of New York system dominates the economics value market, with Baruch College graduates earning $48,432 annually while students pay just $2,978 in net costs. This reflects New York's unique position as the global financial capital, where Wall Street firms and Fortune 500 companies actively recruit from local programs. Columbia University represents the premium end at $79,419 in earnings but requires $20,148 in net costs, creating a stark contrast with CUNY options that cost under $6,000. The earnings gap between top and bottom performers spans over $53,000, highlighting how program choice significantly impacts career trajectories. New York's finance sector, including investment banks, hedge funds, and consulting firms headquartered in Manhattan, provides unparalleled internship and job opportunities for economics graduates. However, the high cost of living in the NYC metro area means that even strong starting salaries require careful financial planning.

Programs

$2,446 – $47,560

Net Price Range

$48,045

Avg. Program Earnings

71.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Economics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$48,432	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
2	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$39,523	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
3	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$40,179	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
4	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$36,995	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
5	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$36,310	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
6	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$34,505	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
7	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$26,353	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
8	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$31,495	$7,490	32.8%
9	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$79,419	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
10	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$36,488	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
11	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$46,087	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
12	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$41,205	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
13	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$42,682	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
14	Colgate University Hamilton, New York	$29,107	$67,995	$67,024	90.5%	12.4%
15	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$43,128	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
16	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$42,682	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
17	Hamilton College Clinton, New York	$28,314	$63,501	$65,740	91.3%	11.8%
18	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$37,748	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
19	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$46,708	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
20	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$69,948	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
21	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$56,415	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
22	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$33,139	$68,790	$61,884	83.2%	64.5%
23	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$38,048	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
24	University of Rochester Rochester, New York	$30,248	$57,705	$64,348	84.5%	38.9%
25	Pace University New York, New York	$31,046	$58,673	$51,424	61.4%	82.9%
26	Barnard College New York, New York	$39,253	$70,456	$66,246	92.9%	8.8%
27	Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva, New York	$31,057	$55,512	$63,268	72.7%	68.4%
28	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$59,904	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
29	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York	$29,694	$50,270	$57,016	70.8%	67.2%
30	Union College Schenectady, New York	$36,000	$58,673	$66,456	85.3%	46.5%
31	St Lawrence University Canton, New York	$30,561	$48,600	$63,870	79.7%	63.5%
32	Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	$38,182	$57,995	$67,805	89.1%	18.7%
33	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$28,309	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
34	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$41,565	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
35	Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York	$39,660	$57,318	$46,140	79.8%	62.9%
36	Siena College Loudonville, New York	$32,697	$45,128	$44,405	75.8%	80.4%
37	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York	$34,581	$46,087	$65,030	81.7%	25.5%
38	Fordham University Bronx, New York	$42,581	$54,678	$61,992	80.3%	54.1%
39	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$26,224	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
40	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129	$42,682	$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
41	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026	$47,846	$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
42	Yeshiva University New York, New York	$47,560	$49,683	$49,900	83.7%	63.2%
43	Ithaca College Ithaca, New York	$32,965	$33,993	$50,510	74.1%	75.2%
44	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951		$45,880	57.4%	96.4%
45	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348		$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
46	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921		$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
47	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733		$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
48	Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, New York	$31,771		$63,612	72.7%	46.1%
49	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
50	Clarkson University Potsdam, New York	$31,955		$57,950	73.6%	78.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Baruch College such strong value for economics students?

Baruch College delivers the highest earnings among CUNY schools at $48,432 annually while maintaining one of the lowest net costs at $2,978. The college's location in Manhattan places students directly in the heart of the financial district. With a 72.10% graduation rate and 49.53% acceptance rate, Baruch balances selectivity with accessibility for motivated students.

How do private university economics programs compare to CUNY options?

Columbia University leads private schools with $79,419 in graduate earnings but costs $20,148 net annually compared to CUNY's sub-$6,000 options. Colgate University offers strong earnings at $67,995 with a 90.50% graduation rate, though net costs reach $29,107. Private programs generally show higher completion rates but require significantly more upfront investment.

Is student debt manageable for economics graduates in New York?

Debt levels vary dramatically across programs, from CUNY City College's $6,650 average to Columbia's $25,000. Most CUNY schools keep debt under $13,000, making repayment feasible given starting salaries. Even Columbia graduates with higher debt typically earn enough to manage payments, with starting salaries near $80,000 annually.

Does location within New York affect economics program value?

Manhattan schools like Baruch and Columbia benefit from proximity to Wall Street and major corporations for internships and networking. Buffalo area schools like Canisius University still deliver solid earnings at $46,087 with lower living costs. SUNY regional campuses offer middle-ground options with earnings in the $40,000s and moderate net costs around $16,000-$18,000.

Where do New York economics graduates typically find employment?

New York's finance sector employs the largest share, including investment banks, asset management firms, and insurance companies concentrated in Manhattan. Government positions at federal, state, and city levels provide stable career paths with competitive benefits. Consulting firms, tech companies, and healthcare organizations also actively recruit economics graduates for analyst and research roles throughout the state.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.