Cheapest Economics Colleges in New York

Baruch College graduates earn $48,432 annually, nearly double what Brooklyn College economics alumni make at $26,353, highlighting how location and specialization shape outcomes within New York's public university system. Hunter College offers the state's lowest net cost at $2,446, while maintaining strong employment connections to Manhattan's financial district. The CUNY system dominates affordable economics education with seven of the ten cheapest programs, reflecting the city's commitment to accessible higher education in a state where Wall Street, media companies, and Fortune 500 headquarters create constant demand for economic analysis. Students can complete their degree for under $5,000 annually at most CUNY campuses, then enter a job market where economic research skills command premium salaries across banking, consulting, and government sectors.

Programs

$2,446 – $29,800

Net Price Range

$43,291

Avg. Program Earnings

62.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Economics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
4	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
5	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
6	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
7	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
8	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
9	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$7,490	32.8%
10	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, New York	$9,173	$8,576	57.1%	73.2%
11	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
12	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
13	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
14	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
15	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
16	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
17	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
18	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
19	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
20	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
21	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
22	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
23	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
24	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
25	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
26	University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, New York	$19,920	$42,740	57.1%	88.9%
27	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
28	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
29	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
30	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148	$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
31	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
32	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
33	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
34	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
35	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921	$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
36	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735	$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
37	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
38	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
39	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842	$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
40	Touro University New York, New York	$26,556	$21,810	65.0%	71.3%
41	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
42	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
43	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733	$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
44	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951	$45,880	57.4%	96.4%
45	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
46	Hamilton College Clinton, New York	$28,314	$65,740	91.3%	11.8%
47	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348	$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
48	Colgate University Hamilton, New York	$29,107	$67,024	90.5%	12.4%
49	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York	$29,694	$57,016	70.8%	67.2%
50	Hartwick College Oneonta, New York	$29,800	$52,849	46.2%	59.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $22,079 earnings gap between Baruch and Brooklyn College economics graduates?

Baruch College specializes in business education and maintains strong Wall Street recruiting relationships, leading to $48,432 average earnings compared to Brooklyn College's $26,353. Baruch's Manhattan location provides direct access to financial firms, investment banks, and consulting companies. The college's Zicklin School of Business has established pipelines to major employers that value quantitative economics training.

How do CUNY schools keep economics programs so affordable?

CUNY campuses receive substantial state funding and benefit from economies of scale across the system's 25 colleges, enabling net costs as low as $2,446 at Hunter College. In-state tuition averages just $7,400 across CUNY economics programs. TAP grants further reduce costs for New York residents, while shared resources and faculty exchanges keep operational expenses manageable.

Does graduating from a cheaper SUNY campus hurt job prospects?

SUNY graduates often compete successfully for positions throughout New York's economy, though location matters significantly for recruitment. Buffalo State graduates earn $36,488 despite the $14,229 net cost, while Plattsburgh alumni average $41,205 annually. Many SUNY economics programs maintain alumni networks in Albany government positions and regional banking centers.

Is Hunter College's 47.86% acceptance rate typical for affordable economics programs?

Hunter represents the more selective end among affordable options, with Baruch at 49.53% and John Jay at 50.66% acceptance rates. SUNY schools generally accept 70-90% of applicants, making them accessible alternatives. The competitive CUNY schools combine affordability with selectivity, creating strong value propositions for economics students.

Where do economics graduates find the best opportunities in New York?

Manhattan's Financial District employs thousands of economics graduates in investment banking, asset management, and economic consulting roles. Albany offers government economist positions with the State Department of Labor and Budget Division. Media companies in Manhattan hire economics graduates for market research, while healthcare systems throughout the state need analysts for cost management and policy work.

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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.