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Baruch College's business graduates earn $46,820 annually while paying just $2,978 in net costs, making it the standout value among New York's affordable business programs. The 20 cheapest Business Administration, Management and Operations programs in the state range from under $3,000 to $14,642 in annual net costs. CUNY schools dominate the bottom of this list, with five programs costing less than $5,000 per year. New York's massive financial sector, which employs over 400,000 workers across banking, insurance, and real estate, creates abundant entry-level opportunities for business graduates. The gap between public and private options becomes stark here, with for-profit colleges like Monroe College charging $10,376 in net costs compared to Brooklyn College's $2,943. TAP grants help reduce expenses for in-state students, though the high cost of living in the NYC metro area remains a significant factor for program selection.
50
Programs
$2,943 – $21,781
Net Price Range
$39,870
Avg. Program Earnings
55.2%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Business Administration, Management and Operations Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
2 $2,978 $7,464 72.1% 49.5%
3 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
4 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
5 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
6 $5,881 $7,352 22.3% 87.7%
7 $7,732 $12,945 60.5% 87.4%
8 $9,173 $8,576 57.1% 73.2%
9 $9,900 $8,379 46.6% 92.1%
10 $10,376 $17,922 57.5% 59.8%
11 $11,147 $7,630 29.3%
12 $11,669 $24,705 32.1% 95.5%
13 $13,882 $8,578 59.2% 81.7%
14 $13,980 $28,670 31.0% 78.2%
15 $14,117 $19,126 27.5%
16 $14,187 $12,525 70.6%
17 $14,229 $8,486 36.0% 86.0%
18 $14,295 $8,712 47.9% 82.7%
19 $14,488 $8,862 52.7% 81.7%
20 $14,642 $15,891 18.3%
21 $15,001 $8,689 44.1% 94.9%
22 $15,644 $8,771 53.5% 84.6%
23 $15,770 $22,106 48.1% 85.9%
24 $15,844 $8,678 56.6% 67.9%
25 $16,547 $8,881 58.8% 70.2%
26 $17,231 $8,769 60.4% 82.6%
27 $17,387 $8,710 48.0% 83.2%
28 $17,393 $8,769 31.9% 87.2%
29 $17,622 $34,535 64.2% 76.7%
30 $17,980 $8,676 40.9% 84.0%
31 $18,021 $8,966 72.1% 74.9%
32 $18,193 $15,450 62.9% 30.0%
33 $18,244 $33,724 58.4% 79.9%
34 $18,322 $32,720 70.7% 77.7%
35 $18,430 $10,560 77.8% 49.1%
36 $18,481 $8,524 68.9% 58.3%
37 $18,486 $10,408 63.9% 67.9%
38 $18,740 $38,135 70.2% 89.6%
39 $19,585 $33,560 56.7% 84.0%
40 $19,920 $42,740 57.1% 88.9%
41 $20,148 $69,045 95.0% 4.0%
42 $20,470 $10,782 73.4% 67.7%
43 $20,709 $44,360 56.0% 75.7%
44 $20,799 $29,950 49.0% 58.3%
45 $21,148 $17,290 64.7% 77.0%
46 $21,344 $37,720 62.6% 88.6%
47 $21,364 $10,363 83.6% 41.8%
48 $21,547 $38,970 71.0% 78.3%
49 $21,614 $27,570 52.3% 84.3%
50 $21,781 $8,540 74.9% 80.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Baruch College the best value for business students?

Baruch College combines the lowest net cost at $2,978 with the highest graduate earnings at $46,820 among affordable programs. The school maintains a 72.1% graduation rate, well above many competitors. Its Manhattan location provides direct access to Wall Street internships and finance career opportunities.

How much do graduation rates vary among the cheapest business programs?

Graduation rates span from 22.3% at CUNY Medgar Evers College to 72.1% at Baruch College, a 50-point difference. Most CUNY schools fall between 46% and 57% graduation rates. For-profit institutions show mixed results, with Jamestown Business College achieving 60.5% while others struggle below 35%.

Is student debt manageable at these affordable business schools?

CUNY schools keep debt reasonable, with most graduates owing between $10,000 and $14,000. However, private for-profit colleges create much higher burdens, such as The College of Westchester at $37,225 and Monroe College at $28,591. Public institutions clearly offer better debt-to-earnings ratios for business students.

Where do business graduates from these programs typically find employment?

New York's finance sector employs the highest concentration of business graduates, particularly in Manhattan's Financial District. Healthcare administration roles are growing rapidly across the state's hospital systems. Corporate headquarters in industries like media, technology, and retail also recruit heavily from local business programs.

Does location within New York affect business program value?

Manhattan schools like Baruch and City College offer proximity to internships and networking but higher living costs. Upstate programs like Jamestown Business College cost less overall but provide fewer immediate job connections. The earnings data shows Manhattan graduates typically earn $6,000 to $10,000 more annually than upstate counterparts.

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