Cheapest English Language and Literature Colleges in New York

CUNY Hunter College offers English Language and Literature students an extraordinary value proposition at just $2,446 net cost annually, nearly $13,000 less than the next most affordable option among New York's public universities. The City University of New York system dominates the state's most affordable English programs, claiming nine of the top ten spots with net costs under $6,000. This financial advantage matters significantly for English majors entering New York's competitive media market, where entry-level positions at publishing houses, digital media companies, and literary agencies often start modestly despite the city's status as the nation's publishing capital. Hunter College graduates earn $28,753 annually, while maintaining a 61% graduation rate and selective 47.86% acceptance rate. The stark contrast with private options becomes clear when comparing Hunter's costs to Mercy University's $15,770 net price, demonstrating how CUNY schools provide access to New York's literary and media networks without crushing debt loads that could limit career flexibility in fields like journalism, publishing, or nonprofit communications.

Programs

$2,446 – $25,989

Net Price Range

$27,555

Avg. Program Earnings

58.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 English Language and Literature, General 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	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
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	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
16	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
17	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
18	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
19	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
20	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
21	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244	$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
22	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
23	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
24	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
25	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
26	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
27	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
28	D'Youville University Buffalo, New York	$19,585	$33,560	56.7%	84.0%
29	University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, New York	$19,920	$42,740	57.1%	88.9%
30	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
31	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
32	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
33	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709	$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
34	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148	$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
35	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344	$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
36	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
37	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
38	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
39	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
40	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100	$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
41	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701	$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
42	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921	$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
43	Russell Sage College Troy, New York	$23,027	$36,756	65.7%	73.6%
44	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461	$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
45	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735	$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
46	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
47	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
48	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
49	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842	$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
50	Keuka College Keuka Park, New York	$25,989	$38,000	48.8%	92.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools so much cheaper than other New York English programs?

CUNY schools benefit from substantial state subsidies and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), keeping net costs below $6,000 for the top nine most affordable programs. Hunter College's $2,446 net cost represents the extreme low end, while even CUNY Medgar Evers at $5,881 costs less than half of SUNY Old Westbury's $9,900. In-state tuition across CUNY averages around $7,400, but generous financial aid brings actual costs down dramatically for qualifying students.

How do earnings compare between the cheapest and most expensive English programs?

CUNY Lehman College graduates earn $31,628 annually despite costing just $3,482 net, while Mercy University graduates earn $23,803 at a net cost of $15,770. This creates a striking value inversion where the most affordable program produces some of the highest-earning graduates. CUNY Baruch College offers another strong example, with graduates earning $31,038 while paying only $2,978 net annually.

Is debt load significantly different between public and private English programs?

Yes, dramatically so. CUNY Brooklyn College graduates carry just $10,250 in debt compared to Mercy University's $25,500, representing $15,250 less borrowing for similar degree outcomes. CUNY Queens College shows the lowest debt at $7,000, while SUNY programs like Fredonia average $25,540. Lower debt loads provide important flexibility for English majors pursuing competitive internships or entry-level media positions in expensive New York markets.

Does location within New York affect program affordability and outcomes?

Manhattan-based CUNY schools like Hunter and Baruch offer both low costs and prime access to publishing, media, and literary organizations centered in the city. Brooklyn College provides similar affordability at $2,943 net cost while connecting students to the borough's growing creative economy. Upstate SUNY programs cost significantly more, with Potsdam at $14,295 and Fredonia at $15,644, despite being located far from major media centers.

What graduation rates can students expect from the most affordable programs?

Graduation rates vary significantly among affordable options, from CUNY Medgar Evers' concerning 22.3% to Hunter College's solid 61% and Baruch's impressive 72.1%. CUNY Queens College maintains a 60.2% rate while keeping costs under $4,000 annually. York College's 30.3% graduation rate at $4,734 net cost suggests that extreme affordability doesn't guarantee academic success, making program selection important.

More English Language and Literature, 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.