Best Community Colleges in New York 2024

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The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in New York offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in New York

Sort by:
  1. Bronx Community College
  2. LaGuardia Community College
  3. Kingsborough Community College
  4. Nassau Community College
  5. Hudson Valley Community College
  6. Borough of Manhattan Community College
  7. Corning Community College
  8. Monroe Community College
  9. Onondaga Community College
  10. Hostos Community College
  1. Nassau Community College
  2. Kingsborough Community College
  3. Bronx Community College
  4. Borough of Manhattan Community College
  5. Jamestown Community College
  6. Westchester Community College
  7. LaGuardia Community College
  8. Monroe Community College
  9. Hudson Valley Community College
  10. Queensborough Community College
    1. Corning Community College 27 to 1
    2. Suffolk County Community College 24 to 1
    3. Cayuga Community College 22 to 1
    4. Jamestown Community College 21 to 1
    5. Dutchess Community College 20 to 1
    6. SUNY Erie 20 to 1
    7. Kingsborough Community College 19 to 1
    8. Rockland Community College 19 to 1
    9. LaGuardia Community College 18 to 1
    10. Westchester Community College 18 to 1
    1. Mildred Elley $13,953
    2. Nassau Community College $5,800
    3. SUNY Orange $5,544
    4. Suffolk County Community College $5,470
    5. Tompkins Cortland Community College $5,462
    6. Jamestown Community College $5,300
    7. Rockland Community College $5,212
    8. SUNY Erie $5,200
    9. Onondaga Community College $5,190
    10. Corning Community College $5,170
      1. SUNY Orange
      2. Genesee Community College
      3. Mildred Elley
      4. Niagara County Community College
      5. Suffolk County Community College
      6. SUNY Erie
      7. Rockland Community College
      8. Jamestown Community College
      9. SUNY Adirondack
      10. Finger Lakes Community College
      1. Mildred Elley
      2. SUNY Erie
      3. Niagara County Community College
      4. Genesee Community College
      5. SUNY Orange
      6. SUNY Adirondack
      7. Hostos Community College
      8. Suffolk County Community College
      9. Onondaga Community College
      10. Cayuga Community College
        1. Tompkins Cortland Community College 11 to 1
        2. Mildred Elley 12 to 1
        3. Hostos Community College 13 to 1
        4. Bronx Community College 14 to 1
        5. Finger Lakes Community College 14 to 1
        6. Genesee Community College 14 to 1
        7. Queensborough Community College 15 to 1
        8. Niagara County Community College 15 to 1
        9. SUNY Adirondack 15 to 1
        10. Hudson Valley Community College 16 to 1
        1. Dutchess Community College $4,600
        2. Westchester Community College $4,730
        3. Monroe Community College $4,756
        4. Queensborough Community College $4,800
        5. Hostos Community College $4,800
        6. Hudson Valley Community College $4,800
        7. Kingsborough Community College $4,800
        8. LaGuardia Community College $4,800
        9. Borough of Manhattan Community College $4,800
        10. Bronx Community College $4,800

          Key Takeaways

          • New York is home to over 400 universities and colleges, including community colleges. There are nearly 100 community colleges in New York City alone. Students shouldn’t have any problem finding the right community college for them.
          • Community colleges offer students an easy transition from high school, without the intense pressure that a traditional four-year college or university demands.
          • Attending a community college in New York can be a much more affordable and accessible option for students who want to transition to a four-year degree.

          The Empire State and Its Community Colleges

          In 2019, data shown by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that associate degree holders earn roughly $887 every week, while those who only have high school diplomas take home $746. This proves that an associate degree from a community college is a good investment that will provide you with a good future in the long run.

          In New York City, out of the hundreds of colleges and universities, 95 institutions offer two-year associate degree programs. This confirms that community colleges are still good options for those who cannot afford to enroll in a full-time, four-year college degree.

          But are community colleges worth it?

          Student studying near two yellow taxis

          Reasons to Enroll in New York Community Colleges

          The choice of what you will do after you obtain your high school diploma or go back to college may sound overwhelming. Contrary to popular misconceptions, there are several ways you can benefit by attending a community college, whether through on-campus or online programs. These schools offer basic courses and professional certificates that you can use to substitute for the first two years of college credits.

          So why should you attend a community college first?

          Easy Transitioning: The transition from high school to living on-campus and away from your family can significantly impact your mental well-being and overall academic performance. Going to a community college first can provide an easier transition for adjusting to college life.

          Community colleges can make your college experience as enjoyable and as relaxed as possible. For example, community college can help familiarize you with essentials for academic success, including lessons on note-taking, textbook recording, peer tutoring, testing accommodations, and even educational equipment loans.

          It won’t hurt your résumé: Many people believe that graduating from a community college can hamper their career prospects. Putting your experience at a community college on your résumé can be seen as a positive, especially if you have earned professional certificates. In recent years, the respect for community colleges and associate degrees has grown exponentially across all majors.

          Prospective students simply need to do a school search of private and public community colleges, looking especially at majors such as criminal justice, media arts, liberal arts, legal studies, fine arts, and other related programs or certificate programs that prepare students for various entry level positions.

          Community colleges cost less. Community colleges are less costly than any four-year university for so many reasons. First, most community colleges do not have on-campus dormitories. This saves students on room and board costs, which can add up to thousands after two years.

          Second, community colleges have lower tuition costs. On average, those admitted to a community college pay roughly $3,700 in tuition. Compare that figure to any in-state, four-year public university, which charges $10,440 per year on average.

          You can also consider receiving your associate’s degree from a community college before transitioning to a four-year college. New York is home to some of the best online associate’s degrees in the country.

          Although the rates for community colleges largely depend on the state or region you’re attending, even the two-year cost in the priciest state is still less than what is charged to a four-year institution.

          Even better, if you do need to take out student loans, the amount you will need to pay back will be significantly lower than if you attended a traditional four-year college.

          Other Advantages of Going to a Community College in New York

          When choosing your education path, you might be surprised to realize the many benefits you can get from attending a community college. While some students may feel that missing out on living on campus in a dorm is a disadvantage, the cost savings are significant.

          Other benefits of attending a community college include:

          • Smaller college class size
          • No ACT or SAT scores are required for admissions
          • Career-specific courses
          • A chance to explore different classes
          • Proximity to home
          • Easier transition from high school
          • Class schedule flexibility
          Female student walking across a street

          Colleges and Universities in New York

          On average, tuition at New York’s higher education institutes comes in well-below the national average at about $7,900. Students have nearly 80 public school options to choose from, ranging in fees from $1,000 at the United States Merchant Marine Academy up to $10,000 at the University at Buffalo, the largest public university. However, some of the state’s private schools, such as New York University (NYU), charge tuition fees at a much higher cost.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          Although tuition fees at NYU average $52,000, students who attend this school have access to some of the best programs in fields like literature, business, medicine, communications, and law. The school also boasts famous alumni like Whoopi Goldberg and Jonas Salk. New York also offers close to 40 religiously affiliated schools. Students can expect to pay a wide range of tuition costs at these schools, but have the option to major in fields like social work, law, religious studies, business, and nursing.

          They say New York is a place where dreams come true. Here, fashion, culture, food, business, art, and many languages comfortably coexist. While The Empire State’s metropolitan landmarks, like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, are noteworthy, many forget New York also offers access to the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and countless cozy cabins tucked away in the verdant Catskills Mountains. Additionally, New York is home to over 200 colleges and universities, making it easy for students to dream big while earning their degrees.

          Explore some of the top programs New York higher education institutes have to offer, and make your educational and personal dreams come true.


          What are New York’s Colleges & Universities?

          New York’s Best Overall

          New York's Best Community Colleges Badge
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          We’ve identified 36 community colleges in New York. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in New York.

          Best Community Colleges in New York

          1. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            21%

            Student body

            10K

            Career Outlook for degree at Bronx Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,206
            Starting Salary: $38,700
            What is Bronx Community College known for?

            Bronx Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2. #2

            LaGuardia Community College

            Long Island City , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            19K

            Career Outlook for degree at LaGuardia Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,218
            Starting Salary: $39,200
            What is LaGuardia Community College known for?

            LaGuardia Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          3. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            27%

            Student body

            19K

            Career Outlook for degree at Kingsborough Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,252
            Starting Salary: $41,300
            What is Kingsborough Community College known for?

            Kingsborough Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          4. #4

            Nassau Community College

            Garden City , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            21%

            Student body

            18K

            Career Outlook for degree at Nassau Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,330
            Starting Salary: $43,900
          5. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at Hudson Valley Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,018
            Starting Salary: $40,400
            What is Hudson Valley Community College known for?

            Hudson Valley Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          6. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            26K

            Career Outlook for degree at Borough of Manhattan Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,170
            Starting Salary: $40,300
            What is Borough of Manhattan Community College known for?

            Borough of Manhattan Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          7. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            40%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Corning Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,966
            Expenses: $13,060
            Starting Salary: $35,700
            Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Corning Community College known for?

            Corning Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          8. #8

            Monroe Community College

            Rochester , NY
            Other Rankings

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            21%

            Student body

            20K

            Career Outlook for degree at Monroe Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,712
            Expenses: $12,850
            Starting Salary: $35,500
            Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Monroe Community College known for?

            Monroe Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          9. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            25%

            Student body

            10K

            Career Outlook for degree at Onondaga Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,890
            Expenses: $12,212
            Starting Salary: $36,300
            Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Onondaga Community College known for?

            Onondaga Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          10. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            20%

            Student body

            7K

            Career Outlook for degree at Hostos Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,208
            Starting Salary: $35,000
            What is Hostos Community College known for?

            Hostos Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          11. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            25%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Cayuga Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,292
            Starting Salary: $34,600
            What is Cayuga Community College known for?

            Cayuga Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          12. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            15K

            Career Outlook for degree at Queensborough Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,210
            Starting Salary: $41,700
            What is Queensborough Community College known for?

            Queensborough Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          13. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            23%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,790
            Expenses: $15,652
            Starting Salary: $34,600
            Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Tompkins Cortland Community College known for?

            Tompkins Cortland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          14. #14

            Dutchess Community College

            Poughkeepsie , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            27%

            Student body

            9K

            Career Outlook for degree at Dutchess Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,174
            Expenses: $17,919
            Starting Salary: $37,200
            Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Dutchess Community College known for?

            Dutchess Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          15. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            23%

            Student body

            16K

            Career Outlook for degree at Westchester Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,410
            Starting Salary: $43,400
            What is Westchester Community College known for?

            Westchester Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          16. Other Rankings

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at Finger Lakes Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,914
            Expenses: $19,221
            Starting Salary: $34,300
            Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Finger Lakes Community College known for?

            Finger Lakes Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          17. #17

            SUNY Adirondack

            Queensbury , NY
            Other Rankings

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            4K

            Career Outlook for degree at SUNY Adirondack

            Cost of Degree: $6,088
            Expenses: $16,460
            Starting Salary: $36,000
            Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is SUNY Adirondack known for?

            SUNY Adirondack’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          18. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            35%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Jamestown Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,450
            Expenses: $16,210
            Starting Salary: $35,200
            Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Jamestown Community College known for?

            Jamestown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          19. Other Rankings

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            30%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at Rockland Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,120
            Starting Salary: $42,900
            What is Rockland Community College known for?

            Rockland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          20. #20

            SUNY Erie

            Buffalo , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at SUNY Erie

            Cost of Degree: $5,950
            Starting Salary: $36,700
            What is SUNY Erie known for?

            SUNY Erie’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          21. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            26K

            Career Outlook for degree at Suffolk County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,270
            Starting Salary: $42,400
            What is Suffolk County Community College known for?

            Suffolk County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          22. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Niagara County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,165
            Starting Salary: $36,600
            What is Niagara County Community College known for?

            Niagara County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          23. #23

            Mildred Elley

            Albany , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $14K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            <1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Mildred Elley

            Cost of Degree: $14,253
            Starting Salary: $24,200
            What is Mildred Elley known for?

            Mildred Elley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          24. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            34%

            Student body

            6K

            Career Outlook for degree at Genesee Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,440
            Expenses: $12,865
            Starting Salary: $33,800
            Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Genesee Community College known for?

            Genesee Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          25. #25

            SUNY Orange

            Middletown , NY

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            21%

            Student body

            6K

            Career Outlook for degree at SUNY Orange

            Cost of Degree: $6,262
            Starting Salary: $40,100
            What is SUNY Orange known for?

            SUNY Orange’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

          1. Nassau Community College
          2. Bronx Community College
          3. LaGuardia Community College
          4. SUNY Orange
          5. Corning Community College
          6. Mildred Elley
          7. Fulton–Montgomery Community College
          8. Kingsborough Community College
          9. Onondaga Community College
          10. Hudson Valley Community College
          11. Schenectady County Community College
          12. Hostos Community College
          13. North Country Community College
          14. Rockland Community College
          15. Clinton Community College
          16. Dutchess Community College
          17. SUNY Broome Community College
          18. Tompkins Cortland Community College
          19. Queensborough Community College
          20. Monroe Community College
          21. Herkimer County Community College
          22. SUNY Adirondack
          23. Westchester Community College
          24. Niagara County Community College
          25. Cayuga Community College
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