Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges in New York

New York's cheapest Political Science programs cluster heavily within the CUNY system, where net costs range from just $2,446 at Hunter College to $3,830 at Queens College. These city schools place graduates directly into one of America's most concentrated political ecosystems, with the United Nations headquarters, federal agencies, and countless nonprofits offering internship and career pathways. The earning potential varies significantly across programs, with Baruch College graduates averaging $36,488 annually while College of Staten Island graduates earn $21,508. SUNY schools fill the middle tier with net costs between $9,900 and $16,547, though acceptance rates climb as high as 92% at Old Westbury. New York's finance and media industries frequently recruit political science graduates for roles in corporate communications, regulatory compliance, and public affairs, making geographic proximity a major advantage for students willing to navigate higher living costs.

Programs

$2,446 – $27,951

Net Price Range

$32,533

Avg. Program Earnings

60.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Political Science and Government 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	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
11	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
12	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
13	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
14	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
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	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244	$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
20	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
21	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
22	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
23	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
24	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
25	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
26	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
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	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709	$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
31	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148	$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
32	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
33	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
34	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
35	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
36	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100	$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
37	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701	$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
38	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921	$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
39	Russell Sage College Troy, New York	$23,027	$36,756	65.7%	73.6%
40	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735	$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
41	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
42	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
43	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842	$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
44	Touro University New York, New York	$26,556	$21,810	65.0%	71.3%
45	Molloy College Rockville Centre, New York	$26,870	$37,840	71.8%	76.6%
46	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
47	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
48	St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, New York	$27,151	$40,150	70.4%	81.1%
49	Wagner College Staten Island, New York	$27,733	$52,000	68.1%	68.5%
50	Iona University New Rochelle, New York	$27,951	$45,880	57.4%	96.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools so affordable for Political Science students?

CUNY institutions dominate the most affordable tier with net costs under $4,000 annually. Hunter College leads at $2,446, followed by Brooklyn College at $2,943 and Baruch at $2,978. These schools benefit from substantial city and state subsidies while maintaining in-state tuition around $7,400 across the system.

How do graduation rates compare across the cheapest programs?

Graduation rates vary dramatically, from Baruch College's strong 72.1% down to York College's concerning 30.3%. Most CUNY schools cluster between 54-61%, while SUNY institutions like Plattsburgh achieve 58.8%. The correlation between cost and completion rates isn't consistent across New York's public institutions.

Does attending school in New York City justify higher living costs?

NYC-based programs like Hunter, Baruch, and John Jay offer direct access to internships at the UN, federal agencies, and major nonprofits. Baruch graduates earn $36,488 annually compared to $27,494 for Lehman College graduates. The city's concentration of political organizations creates networking opportunities unavailable elsewhere in the state.

What debt levels can students expect from these programs?

Average debt varies from $10,457 at Queens College to $23,716 at SUNY Plattsburgh. Most CUNY schools keep debt below $13,000, while SUNY institutions typically range from $14,000-24,000. Hunter College combines the lowest net cost with manageable debt of $13,391.

How competitive are admissions at the most affordable schools?

CUNY schools maintain moderate selectivity with Hunter accepting 47.86% and Baruch 49.53% of applicants. SUNY institutions are generally less selective, with Old Westbury accepting 92.1% and Fredonia 84.58%. The most affordable options require solid academic preparation but remain accessible to qualified students.

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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.