Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2023

Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in New York. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2022

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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.

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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?

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There are 47 affordable colleges and universities in New York with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in New York is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

If affordability and budgeting throughout your college journey is a priority to you, check out our guide to budgeting for college students.

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Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

  1. #1

    Stony Brook University

    Stony Brook , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    48%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1335/29

    Stony Brook University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 57
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical Engineering
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  2. #3

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/26

    University at Buffalo’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  3. Other Rankings

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1325/30

  4. Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1170/25

    University at Albany, SUNY’s Online Degrees

    BS in Informatics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    52%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    8K

    What is Fashion Institute of Technology known for?

    Fashion Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  6. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    45%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1090/23

    John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Online Degrees

    BS in Security Management
    • Required Credits: 39
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  7. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    75%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1190/27

    What is State University of New York at Purchase known for?

    State University of New York at Purchase’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  8. Tuition + fees

    $1K

    Acceptance

    25%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1290/27

    What is United States Merchant Marine Academy known for?

    United States Merchant Marine Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1165/26

  10. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1105/23

    State University of New York at Oswego’s Online Degrees

    BA in Public Relations
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business and Marketing Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Wellness Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Agricultural Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Careers Education 7-12
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Technical Education 7-12
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Trade Education 7-12
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 127
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  11. #18

    College of Staten Island

    Staten Island , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    11K

  12. #19

    Excelsior University

    Albany , NY

    Student body

    5K

    Excelsior University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Business and Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Technology Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BPS in Business and Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Finance
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business
    Degree Concentrations
    • General Accounting
    • General
    • Logistics Management
    • Management of Human Resources
    • Marketing
    • Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cybersecurity Technology
    • Network Operations
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    Degree Concentrations
    • Homeland Security
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Military Leadership
    Degree Concentrations
    • Intelligence and Security Analysis
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in National Security
    Degree Concentrations
    • Topics in National Security
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Cybersecurity
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cyber Operations
    • Electronics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Arts
    Degree Concentrations
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Liberal Arts
    Degree Concentrations
    • Logistics Operations Management
    • Population Health
    • Professional and Technical Writing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in History
    Degree Concentrations
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Social Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Care Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Health and Wellness
    • Management
    • Public Health
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    Degree Concentrations
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BPS in Technology Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Information Technology
    • Nuclear Technology
    • Renewable Energy Technology
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Natural Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Biology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical Engineering Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Nanotechnology
    • Power Systems
    • General
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  13. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1215/27

    What is State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry known for?

    State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Online Degrees

    BS in Sustainability Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  14. #21

    Houghton University

    Houghton , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    <1K

    Houghton University’s Online Degrees

    BS/BBA in Human Resource Management
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BBA in Integrated Marketing Communication
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BBA in Leadership Development
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BBA in Organizational Management
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  15. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1015/22

    What is State University of New York at Oneonta known for?

    State University of New York at Oneonta’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. #23

    Buffalo State College

    Buffalo , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    7K

  17. #24

    Alfred State College

    Alfred , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Alfred State College known for?

    Alfred State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Alfred State College’s Online Degrees

    BBA in Technology Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Services Management
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Healthcare Management Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  18. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    74%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/26

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New York’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive
  1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
  2. New York City College of Technology
  3. City College of New York
  4. Medgar Evers College
  5. York College, City University of New York
  6. Hunter College
  7. Lehman College
  8. Graduate Center, CUNY
  9. Brooklyn College
  10. Baruch College
  11. John Jay College of Criminal Justice
  12. College of Staten Island
  13. Queens College, City University of New York
  14. Empire State College
  15. Fashion Institute of Technology
  16. State University of New York at Old Westbury
  17. Buffalo State College
  18. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  19. State University of New York at New Paltz
  20. State University of New York Maritime College
  21. Farmingdale State College
  22. State University of New York at Delhi
  23. State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  24. State University of New York at Canton
  25. SUNY Brockport
  26. State University of New York at Oneonta
  27. State University of New York at Oswego
  28. State University of New York at Potsdam
  29. State University of New York at Morrisville
  30. State University of New York at Fredonia
  31. State University of New York College at Cortland
  32. Alfred State College
  33. State University of New York at Geneseo
  34. State University of New York at Cobleskill
  35. State University of New York at Purchase
  36. State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  37. Stony Brook University
  38. University at Albany, SUNY
  39. Binghamton University
  40. University at Buffalo
  41. Boricua College
  42. Plaza College
  43. Monroe College
  44. Bryant & Stratton College
  45. Touro University, New York
  46. Mercy College
  47. Metropolitan College of New York

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