Best Value Teacher Education and Professional Development Colleges in New York

CUNY Hunter College delivers extraordinary value for teacher education students, with graduates earning $55,286 annually while paying just $2,446 in net costs. This 22:1 earnings-to-cost ratio stands out even among New York's strong public university options. The CUNY system dominates the most affordable spots, with five campuses offering net costs under $5,000, while SUNY schools provide mid-range alternatives between $14,000-$20,000. Teacher education graduates enter a state market where New York City alone employs over 75,000 teachers across its public school system, creating steady demand for qualified educators. The earnings range spans from $27,280 to $55,286, reflecting differences in geographic placement, specialization areas, and certification levels. Private options like St. Joseph's University-New York cost significantly more at $17,622 net price but maintain competitive graduate earnings of $33,993. With graduation rates varying from 30% at CUNY York College to 70% at SUNY Oneonta, prospective teachers should carefully consider program support structures alongside affordability when making their choice.

Programs

$2,446 – $41,026

Net Price Range

$37,297

Avg. Program Earnings

61.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 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	$55,286	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$49,019	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$39,369	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
4	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$41,565	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
5	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$29,685	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
6	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$40,017	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
7	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$44,542	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
8	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$33,109	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
9	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$30,499	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
10	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$33,993	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
11	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$27,280	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
12	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$38,108	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
13	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$33,138	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
14	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$30,835	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
15	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$38,289	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
16	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$38,289	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
17	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$50,606	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
18	Ithaca College Ithaca, New York	$32,965	$44,933	$50,510	74.1%	75.2%
19	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129	$45,852	$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
20	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$30,554	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
21	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348	$35,060	$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
22	Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York	$39,660	$48,745	$46,140	79.8%	62.9%
23	Nazareth University Rochester, New York	$30,521	$36,852	$40,880	72.9%	83.9%
24	University of Rochester Rochester, New York	$30,248	$20,140	$64,348	84.5%	38.9%
25	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$16,663	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
26	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430		$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
27	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470		$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
28	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021		$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
29	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486		$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
30	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150		$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
31	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900		$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
32	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547		$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
33	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026		$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
34	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
35	St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, New York	$27,151		$40,150	70.4%	81.1%
36	Russell Sage College Troy, New York	$23,027		$36,756	65.7%	73.6%
37	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148		$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
38	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701		$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
39	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322		$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
40	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978		$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
41	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115		$7,490	32.8%
42	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486		$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
43	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783		$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
44	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244		$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
45	Dominican University New York Orangeburg, New York	$26,187		$33,060	56.8%	89.0%
46	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735		$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
47	Five Towns College Dix Hills, New York	$20,799		$29,950	49.0%	58.3%
48	Hartwick College Oneonta, New York	$29,800		$52,849	46.2%	59.7%
49	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461		$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
50	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951		$45,880	57.4%	96.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Hunter College such strong value for teacher education?

Hunter College combines the highest graduate earnings at $55,286 with the lowest net cost at $2,446, creating strong return on investment. The school maintains a 61% graduation rate while accepting only 48% of applicants, indicating selective admissions that support student success. Hunter's Manhattan location provides access to varied teaching opportunities across New York City's extensive school system.

How do SUNY schools compare to CUNY options for teacher education costs?

SUNY schools typically cost 3-8 times more than CUNY campuses, with net prices ranging from $14,229 to $19,951 compared to CUNY's $2,446-$4,734 range. However, SUNY programs like Oneonta achieve 70% graduation rates and $44,542 average earnings. Students must weigh the higher upfront costs against potentially better completion rates and earnings outcomes.

Is teacher education debt manageable at New York schools?

Most programs keep debt reasonable, with levels ranging from $13,857 at CUNY Brooklyn College to $27,000 at SUNY Potsdam. CUNY schools generally produce lower debt loads under $16,000, while SUNY institutions average $20,000-$25,000. The debt-to-earnings ratios remain favorable, particularly at Hunter College where graduates earn over three times their typical debt amount.

Does graduation rate predict earning potential in teacher education programs?

The relationship varies significantly across schools, challenging assumptions about graduation rates and earnings. SUNY Oneonta achieves 70% graduation with $44,542 earnings, while CUNY Hunter's 61% rate produces $55,286 average salaries. CUNY York College's concerning 30% graduation rate corresponds with the lowest earnings at $29,685, suggesting completion rates do matter for career outcomes.

Where do teacher education graduates find the best employment opportunities in New York?

New York City offers the largest concentration of teaching positions, employing over 75,000 teachers in its public system alone. CUNY graduates benefit from direct pipelines into city schools, while SUNY campuses in smaller cities like Potsdam and Fredonia often place graduates in upstate districts. The state's teacher shortage in STEM subjects and bilingual education creates additional opportunities for specialized graduates.

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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.