Cheapest Romance Languages Colleges in New York

CUNY Hunter College graduates with Romance Languages degrees earn $34,847 annually while paying just $2,446 in net costs, creating the best return on investment among New York's language programs. The $15,801 gap between Hunter's net price and the most expensive option at SUNY Brockport shows how dramatically costs vary across the state's public institutions. New York's position as a global financial and media center creates unique opportunities for Romance language speakers, with international banks, publishing houses, and diplomatic organizations requiring multilingual professionals. The CUNY system dominates affordable options, claiming eight of the top ten spots with net costs under $5,000. Bernard M Baruch College achieves a 72.1% graduation rate despite charging only $2,978 net, proving that low cost doesn't mean compromised outcomes. While earnings range from $26,933 to $34,847, the city's high cost of living makes program selection particularly important for managing student debt.

Programs

$2,446 – $27,951

Net Price Range

$31,589

Avg. Program Earnings

60.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 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	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
15	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
16	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
17	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
18	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, New York	$17,622	$34,535	64.2%	76.7%
19	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, New York	$18,021	$8,966	72.1%	74.9%
20	Daemen University Amherst, New York	$18,244	$33,724	58.4%	79.9%
21	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
22	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
23	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$18,481	$8,524	68.9%	58.3%
24	University at Albany Albany, New York	$18,486	$10,408	63.9%	67.9%
25	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
26	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833	$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
27	SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, New York	$19,067	$8,953	61.6%	74.7%
28	University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, New York	$19,920	$42,740	57.1%	88.9%
29	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
30	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
31	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
32	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148	$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
33	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344	$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
34	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$21,364	$10,363	83.6%	41.8%
35	Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York	$21,547	$38,970	71.0%	78.3%
36	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614	$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
37	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
38	Alfred University Alfred, New York	$22,701	$39,530	55.5%	50.6%
39	Wells College Aurora, New York	$22,921	$35,166	40.9%	87.7%
40	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461	$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
41	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
42	The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York	$23,819	$37,452	51.0%	78.0%
43	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
44	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842	$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
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 Romance Languages students?

CUNY schools benefit from substantial state funding and TAP grant eligibility for New York residents. Hunter College's $2,446 net cost and Brooklyn College's $2,943 demonstrate how public funding keeps education accessible. The system serves over 240,000 students across five boroughs, spreading costs efficiently. Even with identical in-state tuition around $7,400, net costs vary by campus based on local living expenses and financial aid distribution.

How do graduation rates compare across New York's cheapest Romance Languages programs?

Graduation rates span from 30.3% at CUNY York College to 72.1% at Bernard M Baruch College, showing significant variation even within the same university system. Hunter College maintains a solid 61% graduation rate while charging the lowest net price statewide. SUNY schools like Brockport achieve 56.6% graduation rates but cost significantly more at $15,844 net. Higher-priced programs don't guarantee better completion rates in this field.

Is studying Romance Languages financially viable in New York's expensive job market?

Hunter College graduates earn $34,847 annually, which provides reasonable earning power for the modest $2,446 investment. However, CUNY Queens College graduates earn only $29,685 despite New York City's high living costs. The city's international business community, translation services, and cultural institutions create steady demand for language professionals. Students should consider total debt load against starting salaries when choosing between programs.

What acceptance rates should Romance Languages applicants expect at affordable New York schools?

CUNY schools maintain competitive but accessible admission standards, with Hunter College accepting 47.86% of applicants and Brooklyn College admitting 54.54%. SUNY institutions generally offer higher acceptance rates, with Old Westbury accepting 92.1% of students. Private options like Mercy University admit 85.86% of applicants but cost $15,770 net. The most affordable options require stronger academic credentials than their SUNY counterparts.

Where can Romance Languages graduates find employment opportunities in New York?

New York's status as a global financial center creates opportunities at international banks, consulting firms, and multinational corporations requiring multilingual staff. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, publishing houses, and translation agencies that regularly hire language specialists. Government positions in immigration, diplomacy, and international trade also provide career paths. Starting salaries range from $26,933 to $34,847, with growth potential in specialized fields like legal or medical translation.

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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.