Best Value Registered Nursing Colleges in New York

CUNY Hunter College delivers strong value for nursing students with a net cost of just $2,446 while producing graduates who earn $94,255 annually. This represents a remarkable return on investment that outperforms many programs costing ten times more. The nursing earnings range across New York programs spans from $63,393 to $97,959, reflecting the state's complex healthcare market from rural facilities to major medical centers like NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System. Public CUNY schools dominate the best value rankings, with six institutions offering net costs under $6,000. These programs feed directly into New York's massive healthcare sector, which employs over 1.2 million workers and continues expanding as the population ages. Private options like Mercy University command higher costs but deliver the highest graduate earnings at $97,959. The 20 programs analyzed show significant variation in outcomes, with graduation rates ranging from 19.4% at CUNY New York City College of Technology to 95% at Columbia University.

Programs

$2,446 – $46,892

Net Price Range

$79,666

Avg. Program Earnings

56.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 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	$94,255	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$95,348	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
3	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$87,973	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
4	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$94,579	$7,490	32.8%
5	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783	$88,399	$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
6	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$89,044	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
7	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, New York	$9,173	$93,439	$8,576	57.1%	73.2%
8	Empire State University Saratoga Springs, New York	$11,147	$89,879	$7,630	29.3%
9	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$97,959	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
10	SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, New York	$15,001	$76,117	$8,689	44.1%	94.9%
11	Maria College of Albany Albany, New York	$16,055	$78,343	$17,680	42.9%	96.9%
12	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, New York	$17,387	$83,043	$8,710	48.0%	83.2%
13	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$85,898	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
14	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, New York	$13,882	$64,358	$8,578	59.2%	81.7%
15	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$90,856	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
16	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709	$91,744	$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
17	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$93,520	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
18	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$71,095	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
19	University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, New York	$19,920	$83,768	$42,740	57.1%	88.9%
20	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$63,393	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
21	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$94,508	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
22	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244	$68,869	$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
23	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$69,854	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
24	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$84,085	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
25	Trocaire College Buffalo, New York	$21,236	$74,576	$19,820	19.2%	68.1%
26	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733	$95,910	$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
27	D'Youville University Buffalo, New York	$19,585	$66,897	$33,560	56.7%	84.0%
28	Molloy College Rockville Centre, New York	$26,870	$90,956	$37,840	71.8%	76.6%
29	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$69,775	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
30	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$66,681	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
31	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348	$90,625	$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
32	Dominican University New York Orangeburg, New York	$26,187	$83,177	$33,060	56.8%	89.0%
33	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$69,457	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
34	Touro University New York, New York	$26,556	$78,343	$21,810	65.0%	71.3%
35	Pace University New York, New York	$31,046	$90,727	$51,424	61.4%	82.9%
36	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$60,943	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
37	Keuka College Keuka Park, New York	$25,989	$71,015	$38,000	48.8%	92.8%
38	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$94,243	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
39	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461	$63,005	$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
40	Russell Sage College Troy, New York	$23,027	$59,810	$36,756	65.7%	73.6%
41	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735	$60,485	$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
42	Helene Fuld College of Nursing New York, New York	$37,732	$93,816	$24,648		12.0%
43	University of Rochester Rochester, New York	$30,248	$68,194	$64,348	84.5%	38.9%
44	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$62,253	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
45	Nazareth University Rochester, New York	$30,521	$63,005	$40,880	72.9%	83.9%
46	Hartwick College Oneonta, New York	$29,800	$60,410	$52,849	46.2%	59.7%
47	Pacific College of Health and Science New York, New York	$46,892		$11,234	67.7%
48	Bryant & Stratton College-Online Orchard Park, New York	$14,642		$15,891	18.3%
49	SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, New York	$17,393		$8,769	31.9%	87.2%
50	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, New York	$14,488		$8,862	52.7%	81.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY nursing programs such strong value propositions?

CUNY schools occupy six of the top spots for value, with net costs ranging from $2,446 to $5,881. Hunter College leads with graduates earning $94,255 against minimal costs. Lehman College produces the second-highest earners at $95,348 with a net cost of only $3,482. These programs leverage New York City's dense hospital network for clinical rotations and job placement.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in New York nursing schools?

Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, though exceptions exist. Columbia University achieves a 95% graduation rate but costs $20,148 net. CUNY Hunter College maintains a solid 61% graduation rate at $2,446 net cost. CUNY New York City College of Technology shows the lowest completion rate at 19.4% despite affordable pricing at $4,783 net.

Does attending a more expensive nursing program guarantee higher earnings?

Not necessarily. Mercy University produces the highest-earning graduates at $97,959 with moderate costs of $15,770 net. Meanwhile, several CUNY programs generate similar earnings in the $87,000-$95,000 range at much lower costs. The data shows that program quality and clinical partnerships matter more than tuition prices for career outcomes.

Where do New York nursing graduates find the best employment opportunities?

New York's healthcare sector employs over 1.2 million workers across 200+ hospitals and thousands of clinics. Major systems like NYU Langone, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Memorial Sloan Kettering offer competitive salaries driving the $63,393-$97,959 earnings range. Rural areas upstate and Long Island also provide opportunities, often with loan forgiveness programs to attract new graduates.

What debt levels should nursing students expect from New York programs?

Debt loads vary dramatically from $9,311 at CUNY New York City College of Technology to $26,792 at Maria College of Albany. Most CUNY programs keep debt under $15,000, while private institutions average around $20,000. Columbia University graduates carry $15,000 in debt despite high tuition, reflecting strong financial aid. TAP grants help reduce costs for New York residents.

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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.