Best Value Mathematics Colleges in New York

Cornell University mathematics graduates earn $91,211 annually while CUNY Hunter College offers nearly identical career preparation for just $2,446 net cost. This 13-to-1 earnings gap reflects New York's stratified mathematics job market, where Wall Street quantitative roles and tech positions in Manhattan command premium salaries. The CUNY system dominates affordable mathematics education, with seven schools offering sub-$5,000 net costs. Baruch College stands out among public options with $61,064 graduate earnings and direct pipelines to financial district employers. Mathematics students benefit from New York's concentration of hedge funds, investment banks, and fintech companies that actively recruit quantitative talent. The state's 72% graduation rate at Baruch versus 30% at York College shows how location and student support systems impact completion. TAP grants help offset costs for in-state students, though living expenses in New York City can add $15,000-20,000 annually to total attendance costs.

Programs

$2,446 – $47,560

Net Price Range

$44,893

Avg. Program Earnings

66.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Mathematics 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	$61,064	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$49,631	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$40,485	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
4	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$40,485	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
5	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$37,208	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
6	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$33,281	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
7	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$26,353	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
8	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$41,565	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
9	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$91,211	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
10	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$42,682	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
11	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$55,286	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
12	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$38,289	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
13	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$41,007	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
14	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$31,305	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
15	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$30,771	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
16	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$39,648	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
17	Hamilton College Clinton, New York	$28,314	$59,045	$65,740	91.3%	11.8%
18	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$37,568	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
19	Clarkson University Potsdam, New York	$31,955	$65,947	$57,950	73.6%	78.4%
20	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$35,060	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
21	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$40,132	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
22	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$33,139	$63,005	$61,884	83.2%	64.5%
23	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$40,485	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
24	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$37,568	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
25	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$54,531	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
26	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348	$43,798	$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
27	Siena College Loudonville, New York	$32,697	$49,436	$44,405	75.8%	80.4%
28	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$27,584	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
29	St Lawrence University Canton, New York	$30,561	$42,682	$63,870	79.7%	63.5%
30	Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	$38,182	$49,683	$67,805	89.1%	18.7%
31	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York	$34,581		$65,030	81.7%	25.5%
32	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150		$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
33	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614		$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
34	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344		$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
35	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819		$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
36	Yeshiva University New York, New York	$47,560		$49,900	83.7%	63.2%
37	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985		$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
38	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486		$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
39	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951		$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
40	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644		$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
41	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231		$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
42	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067		$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
43	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026		$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
44	Touro University New York, New York	$26,556		$21,810	65.0%	71.3%
45	Union College Schenectady, New York	$36,000		$66,456	85.3%	46.5%
46	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
47	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733		$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
48	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921		$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
49	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244		$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
50	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951		$45,880	57.4%	96.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive earnings difference between CUNY and Cornell mathematics programs?

Cornell mathematics graduates average $91,211 while most CUNY schools produce graduates earning $30,000-50,000 annually. This gap reflects employer perception, alumni networks, and career placement resources rather than mathematical rigor. Cornell's Ivy League status opens doors to high-paying quantitative finance roles on Wall Street that typically recruit from elite institutions. However, CUNY graduates often find solid employment in teaching, government analysis, and mid-tier financial services.

How do New York mathematics programs compare on graduation rates?

Graduation rates span from Cornell's 95% down to York College's 30%, with most programs falling between 50-70%. Baruch leads CUNY schools at 72% while maintaining low costs and strong job placement. Binghamton University achieves 84% graduation rates among SUNY schools, reflecting its selective admissions. These variations often correlate with student preparation levels and institutional support rather than program quality alone.

Is the CUNY system truly affordable for mathematics students?

CUNY schools offer net costs between $2,446-4,734, making them among the nation's most affordable mathematics programs. Hunter College provides the lowest net cost at $2,446 while maintaining respectable graduate earnings of $40,485. Even with New York City's high living costs, total attendance rarely exceeds $20,000 annually. TAP grants and federal aid make these programs accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.

Where do New York mathematics graduates find employment?

New York's finance sector employs thousands of mathematics graduates in quantitative analysis, risk management, and algorithmic trading roles. Tech companies like Google, Meta, and Bloomberg actively recruit from local programs for data science positions. Government agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hire mathematics graduates for economic research. Teaching remains a stable option, with New York City schools offering competitive salaries and pension benefits for mathematics educators.

Does attending a more expensive program guarantee better mathematics career outcomes?

Not necessarily within New York's job market. Baruch College graduates earning $61,064 at just $2,978 net cost often outperform more expensive SUNY programs. Cornell justifies its $32,337 cost with $91,211 earnings, but many finance employers recruit from multiple New York schools. Success depends more on internships, networking, and mathematical skills than institutional prestige. CUNY schools offer direct access to Manhattan employers through location advantage.

More Mathematics Rankings

Cheapest Mathematics in New York Mathematics Under $20,000 in New York

All Mathematics Programs Best Colleges in New York Best Mathematics in New York

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