Best Value Teacher Education and Professional Development Colleges in New York

CUNY Hunter College delivers extraordinary value in teacher education with a net cost of just $2,446 while graduates earn $33,993 annually. This represents one of the strongest return-on-investment ratios among New York's 20 teacher education programs, where costs range from under $2,500 to nearly $27,000. The City University of New York system dominates the affordable end of the spectrum, with six CUNY campuses offering net costs below $6,000. New York's massive public school system employs over 75,000 teachers across the five boroughs alone, creating steady demand for qualified educators who understand urban classroom environments. While Manhattan College graduates command the highest salaries at $53,358, they also face a net cost of $26,881. The data reveals a clear divide between accessible public options and premium private programs. State funding through TAP grants helps keep SUNY and CUNY programs affordable for residents, though graduation rates vary significantly across institutions.

Programs

$2,446 – $47,560

Net Price Range

$34,825

Avg. Program Earnings

59.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 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	$33,993	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$40,455	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
3	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$32,350	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
4	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$42,682	$7,490	32.8%
5	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$29,995	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
6	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$28,598	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
7	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$30,305	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
8	Monroe College Bronx, New York	$10,376	$31,314	$17,922	57.5%	59.8%
9	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$37,424	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
10	Boricua College New York, New York	$14,187	$35,060	$12,525	70.6%
11	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344	$50,270	$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
12	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$39,369	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
13	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$53,358	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
14	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$27,575	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
15	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$32,569	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
16	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$26,739	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
17	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$33,993	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
18	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$31,980	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
19	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$36,668	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
20	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$28,381	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
21	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, New York	$17,980	$25,967	$8,676	40.9%	84.0%
22	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$38,289	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
23	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$32,284	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
24	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$37,568	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
25	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$44,928	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
26	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$29,685	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
27	Molloy College Rockville Centre, New York	$26,870	$28,019	$37,840	71.8%	76.6%
28	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129	$35,274	$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
29	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York	$34,581		$65,030	81.7%	25.5%
30	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547		$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
31	Yeshiva University New York, New York	$47,560		$49,900	83.7%	63.2%
32	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622		$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
33	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844		$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
34	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701		$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
35	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733		$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
36	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
37	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148		$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
38	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322		$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
39	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978		$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
40	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482		$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
41	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881		$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
42	D'Youville University Buffalo, New York	$19,585		$33,560	56.7%	84.0%
43	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244		$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
44	Dominican University New York Orangeburg, New York	$26,187		$33,060	56.8%	89.0%
45	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735		$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
46	Five Towns College Dix Hills, New York	$20,799		$29,950	49.0%	58.3%
47	Siena College Loudonville, New York	$32,697		$44,405	75.8%	80.4%
48	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951		$45,880	57.4%	96.4%
49	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842		$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
50	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770		$22,106	48.1%	85.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools such strong values for teacher education?

Six CUNY campuses appear in the top tier with net costs between $2,446 and $5,115, making quality teacher preparation accessible to working-class students. Hunter College leads with the lowest net cost at $2,446 while maintaining a 61% graduation rate. Brooklyn College combines affordability at $2,943 with a solid 56.6% completion rate, proving that low cost doesn't sacrifice quality outcomes.

How do graduation rates compare across different price points?

Graduation rates span from 30.3% at York College to 72.1% at SUNY Geneseo, showing that cost alone doesn't predict success. Manhattan College achieves a 66% graduation rate despite its $26,881 net cost, while several affordable CUNY options maintain rates above 50%. SUNY Geneseo stands out with the highest completion rate at 72.1% and a moderate $18,021 net cost.

Does attending a more expensive program lead to higher teacher salaries?

Manhattan College graduates earn the highest salaries at $53,358, but several affordable programs produce competitive outcomes. College of Staten Island graduates average $42,682 despite a net cost of only $5,115, demonstrating strong earning potential from public education. City College graduates earn $40,455 with just a $3,486 net investment, proving that expensive doesn't always mean better career prospects.

What explains the wide acceptance rate variation among these programs?

Acceptance rates range from 47.86% at Hunter College to 92.1% at SUNY Old Westbury, reflecting different admission philosophies and student demand. Hunter's selectivity at under 48% admission suggests high competition for spots in this affordable program. SUNY schools generally accept 70-90% of applicants, making quality teacher education accessible to students with varying academic backgrounds.

Is student debt a major concern for New York teacher education graduates?

Student debt levels vary dramatically from $9,558 at City College to $27,000 at Manhattan College among programs reporting data. Most CUNY graduates carry debt below $15,000, keeping monthly payments manageable on teacher salaries. The combination of low net costs and moderate debt loads makes public programs particularly attractive for students entering a profession with predictable but modest starting salaries.

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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.