Cheapest Engineering Colleges in New York

College of Staten Island CUNY delivers engineering education for just $5,115 net cost, making it 90% less expensive than Yeshiva University at $47,560. This $42,445 gap between cheapest and most expensive programs reflects New York's sharp divide between public CUNY/SUNY options and private institutions. Engineering graduates from these programs enter a state where finance technology, renewable energy infrastructure, and biotechnology companies actively recruit talent. The Cooper Union stands out with its 22.47% acceptance rate despite charging $16,478 net cost, while Cornell engineering graduates earn $74,576 annually. SUNY schools dominate the affordable tier, with six programs under $19,000.

Programs

$5,115 – $47,560

Net Price Range

$62,214

Avg. Program Earnings

69.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Engineering, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$7,490	32.8%
2	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, New York	$13,882	$8,578	59.2%	81.7%
3	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
4	The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, New York	$16,478	$46,820	80.3%	22.5%
5	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
6	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
7	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
8	SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York	$18,730	$9,206	69.9%	69.5%
9	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
10	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709	$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
11	University of Rochester Rochester, New York	$30,248	$64,348	84.5%	38.9%
12	Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, New York	$31,771	$63,612	72.7%	46.1%
13	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
14	Yeshiva University New York, New York	$47,560	$49,900	83.7%	63.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes College of Staten Island CUNY so affordable for engineering students?

As part of the CUNY system, College of Staten Island charges just $7,490 in-state tuition with generous financial aid bringing net costs to $5,115. The 32.80% graduation rate reflects the school's open access mission, serving students who often work while studying.

How do SUNY engineering programs compare in cost and outcomes?

Seven SUNY schools offer engineering under $21,000 net cost, with graduation rates from 53.50% at Fredonia to 77.80% at Stony Brook. Stony Brook graduates earn $62,154 annually while maintaining relatively low $20,000 average debt levels.

Is The Cooper Union still a good value despite its $16,478 cost?

Cooper Union accepts just 22.47% of applicants and achieves an 80.30% graduation rate, making it highly selective among affordable options. The school traditionally offered free tuition but now provides substantial aid to keep costs manageable.

Where do New York engineering graduates typically find employment?

New York's finance sector employs many engineering graduates in quantitative roles, while the state's growing renewable energy and biotechnology industries offer traditional engineering positions. The average earnings range from $55,348 to $74,576 reflects varied career paths across industries.

More Engineering, General Rankings

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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.