Best Value History Colleges in New York

Columbia University charges $69,045 in tuition yet delivers only modest post-graduation earnings of $38,597 for History majors, while CUNY Hunter College costs just $2,446 net and produces graduates earning $26,458. This 28-to-1 cost difference highlights how New York's public universities offer strong value for History students. CUNY Queens College stands out with the highest earnings at $38,289 despite a net cost of only $3,830. New York's rich cultural institutions, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the New York Historical Society, create abundant internship and career opportunities for History graduates in museums, archives, and cultural preservation. The state's TAP grants help reduce costs further for in-state students, making programs like Brooklyn College ($2,943 net cost) and City College ($3,486 net cost) particularly attractive options for budget-conscious students seeking quality education.

Programs

$2,446 – $47,560

Net Price Range

$30,970

Avg. Program Earnings

67.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 History Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$26,458	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$38,289	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
3	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$28,598	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
4	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$31,133	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
5	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$25,194	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
6	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$25,194	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
7	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$30,771	$7,490	32.8%
8	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$33,281	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
9	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$39,927	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
10	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$42,682	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
11	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$27,947	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
12	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$38,597	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
13	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$26,933	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
14	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$29,685	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
15	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$26,585	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
16	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$31,038	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
17	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$29,685	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
18	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$33,993	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
19	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$29,685	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
20	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$24,140	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
21	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$32,569	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
22	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$47,260	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
23	Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva, New York	$31,057	$41,193	$63,268	72.7%	68.4%
24	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$26,739	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
25	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$24,035	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
26	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$21,508	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
27	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$23,182	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
28	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$22,648	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
29	Colgate University Hamilton, New York	$29,107	$35,416	$67,024	90.5%	12.4%
30	St Lawrence University Canton, New York	$30,561	$36,134	$63,870	79.7%	63.5%
31	Siena College Loudonville, New York	$32,697	$36,674	$44,405	75.8%	80.4%
32	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$29,685	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
33	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$28,960	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
34	Fordham University Bronx, New York	$42,581	$43,240	$61,992	80.3%	54.1%
35	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129	$35,416	$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
36	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$32,563	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
37	Nazareth University Rochester, New York	$30,521	$29,685	$40,880	72.9%	83.9%
38	Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York	$39,660	$36,848	$46,140	79.8%	62.9%
39	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842	$23,456	$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
40	Union College Schenectady, New York	$36,000	$31,848	$66,456	85.3%	46.5%
41	Ithaca College Ithaca, New York	$32,965	$27,476	$50,510	74.1%	75.2%
42	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026	$31,670	$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
43	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$13,702	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
44	Yeshiva University New York, New York	$47,560		$49,900	83.7%	63.2%
45	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York	$34,581		$65,030	81.7%	25.5%
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	Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	$38,182		$67,805	89.1%	18.7%
49	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
50	Touro University New York, New York	$26,556		$21,810	65.0%	71.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Queens College the best value for History majors?

CUNY Queens College delivers the highest post-graduation earnings at $38,289 while maintaining a net cost of just $3,830. Students graduate with an average debt of only $12,500, significantly lower than many peer institutions. The 69% acceptance rate makes admission accessible, while the 60% graduation rate demonstrates solid academic support.

How do CUNY schools compare to SUNY options for History students?

CUNY schools consistently offer lower net costs, ranging from $2,446 to $5,115, compared to SUNY schools that start at $9,900. CUNY graduates earn between $25,194 and $38,289, while SUNY graduates typically earn $26,585 to $33,281. However, some SUNY schools like Old Westbury have higher acceptance rates at 92%.

Is Columbia University worth the premium cost for History majors?

Columbia's $20,148 net cost produces graduates earning $38,597, similar to much cheaper CUNY Queens College at $38,289. While Columbia boasts a 95% graduation rate and connects students to elite networks, the 3.95% acceptance rate makes admission extremely difficult. Most students find better value at public institutions given the modest earning differences.

What debt levels should History majors expect in New York?

CUNY schools keep debt remarkably low, with Hunter College graduates averaging just $13,000 and Queens College at $12,500. SUNY schools range higher, from $16,180 at Old Westbury to $23,000 at Brockport. Private institutions like Le Moyne College push debt to $26,045, though some offer strong graduation rates of 71%.

Where do History graduates find the best job opportunities in New York?

New York City offers unparalleled opportunities in museums, archives, publishing, and media organizations that value historical research skills. The city hosts major cultural institutions, financial firms needing research analysts, and media companies requiring content creators with historical knowledge. Graduates from schools like Hunter College and Queens College benefit from direct access to these Manhattan-based employers while keeping education costs minimal.

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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.