Cheapest Psychology Colleges in New York

Baruch College graduates command the highest psychology starting salaries in New York at $35,546, despite charging just $2,978 in net costs. This stark contrast highlights how CUNY schools deliver strong value across the state's 15 most affordable psychology programs. Hunter College offers the absolute lowest net price at $2,446, making quality education accessible to students from all backgrounds. The psychology field connects strongly to New York's massive healthcare network, with major hospital systems like NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai hiring thousands of mental health professionals annually. Net costs across these programs span from $2,446 to $14,295, with CUNY schools claiming the top six spots for affordability. Graduation rates vary significantly, from Medgar Evers College at 22.3% to Baruch's impressive 72.1%. Students benefit from TAP grants that further reduce expenses, while the state's concentration of healthcare employers, research institutions, and social service agencies creates abundant internship and career opportunities for psychology graduates.

Programs

$2,446 – $23,901

Net Price Range

$28,991

Avg. Program Earnings

57.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Psychology, 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 Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
5	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
6	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
7	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
8	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$7,490	32.8%
9	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
10	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
11	Empire State University Saratoga Springs, New York	$11,147	$7,630	29.3%
12	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, New York	$13,882	$8,578	59.2%	81.7%
13	Villa Maria College Buffalo, New York	$13,980	$28,670	31.0%	78.2%
14	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229	$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
15	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
16	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
17	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
18	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
19	Maria College of Albany Albany, New York	$16,055	$17,680	42.9%	96.9%
20	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
21	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
22	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
23	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
24	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244	$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
25	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
26	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
27	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
28	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
29	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
30	D'Youville University Buffalo, New York	$19,585	$33,560	56.7%	84.0%
31	University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, New York	$19,920	$42,740	57.1%	88.9%
32	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
33	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
34	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
35	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709	$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
36	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148	$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
37	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344	$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
38	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
39	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
40	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
41	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
42	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100	$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
43	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701	$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
44	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921	$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
45	Russell Sage College Troy, New York	$23,027	$36,756	65.7%	73.6%
46	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461	$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
47	Elmira College Elmira, New York	$23,735	$37,932	64.0%	96.0%
48	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
49	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
50	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools so affordable for psychology students?

CUNY psychology programs charge net costs between $2,446 and $5,881, with in-state tuition capped around $7,500 across the system. State funding keeps tuition low, while TAP grants can reduce net costs even further for qualifying students. Hunter College leads with the lowest net cost at $2,446, followed closely by Brooklyn College at $2,943. The CUNY system's economies of scale allow it to offer quality psychology education at a fraction of private college costs.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable New York psychology programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 22.3% at CUNY Medgar Evers College to 72.1% at Baruch College. Hunter College maintains a solid 61% graduation rate despite having the lowest net cost, while Brooklyn College graduates 56.6% of its students. SUNY schools show mixed results, with Polytechnic Institute at 59.2% but Buffalo State at just 36%. These differences often reflect student preparation levels and institutional support services.

What starting salaries can psychology graduates expect in New York?

Psychology graduates from these affordable programs earn between $26,933 and $35,546 in their early careers. Baruch College leads with the highest earnings at $35,546, followed by York College at $35,341. SUNY Old Westbury graduates earn $34,135 despite the school's higher net costs. The state's concentration of healthcare systems, research facilities, and social service agencies creates strong demand for psychology professionals, supporting these competitive starting salaries.

Does attending a more expensive program guarantee better outcomes?

Not necessarily, as the data shows mixed results between cost and outcomes. Baruch College charges just $2,978 but produces the highest-earning graduates at $35,546 annually. Conversely, Empire State University costs $11,147 but graduates earn only $30,926. Villa Maria College, the only private option at $13,980, has a low 31% graduation rate. Students often find better value at the top CUNY schools than at higher-priced alternatives.

Where should students focus when choosing among these psychology programs?

Students should prioritize graduation rates and post-graduation earnings over acceptance rates, which range from 47.86% to 92.10%. Baruch College offers the best combination of affordability, outcomes, and selectivity with its 49.53% acceptance rate and 72.1% graduation rate. Hunter College provides excellent value with strong outcomes and the lowest costs. Location matters too, as NYC campuses provide more internship opportunities with major healthcare systems and research institutions.

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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.