Among public universities, Binghamton University offers the best value in New York, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 university rankings.
U.S. News and World Report bases its overall college ranking on a variety of factors, including graduation rates, first-year retention rates, first-generation graduation rates, graduates earning more than a high school graduate, borrower debt, peer assessment, financial resources per student, faculty salaries, standardized tests and citations per publication among others.
The schools of the best value are determined by the academic quality relative to the price paid by students receiving need-based aid, the number of students receiving that aid, as well as the number of those students specifically receiving scholarships or grants and the average discount from the school’s total price for those receiving aid.
While there are several different categories and factors that play into the overall ranking, when it comes to the “best value,” Binghamton University stands out on New York’s list.
Here are the 21 colleges and universities in New York that offer the best value, according to U.S. News.
Adelphi University in Garden City
This private institution is ranked #1 best value college in New York and #115 nationwide.
Binghamton University in Binghamton
Binghamton University stands at the #2 best value in New York (#1 best value among the state’s public universities) and #38 nationwide.
Clarkson University in Potsdam
Clarkson University is a private institution ranked #3 best value in New York and #49 nationwide.
Cornell University in Ithaca
The well-known private institution of Cornell University is ranked #4 best value in New York and #19 nationwide.
CUNY-City College in New York City
This public college is ranked #5 best value in New York and #117 nationwide.
Fordham University in New York City
Fordham University, a private college, is ranked #6 best value in New York and #73 nationwide.
Hofstra University in Hempstead
This private institution located on Long Island is ranked #7 best value in New York and #103 nationwide.
The New School in New York City
This Greenwich Village situated private college is ranked #8 best value in New York and #190 nationwide.
New York University in New York City
Located in Manhattan, this private college is ranked #9 best value in New York and #68 nationwide.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy
This private institution is ranked #10 best value in New York and #123 nationwide.
Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester
RIT is a private institution that is ranked #11 best value in New York and #41 nationwide.
St. John Fisher University in Rochester
This private university is ranked #12 best value in New York and #43 nationwide.
St. John’s University in Queens
This private Catholic institution is ranked #13 best value in New York and #183 nationwide.
Stony Brook University in Stony Brook
Located on Long Island, this public college is ranked #14 best value in New York and #135 nationwide.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse
This public SUNY institution is ranked #15 best value in New York and #105 nationwide.
Syracuse University in Syracuse
This well-known private college is ranked #16 best value in New York and #80 nationwide.
Touro University in New York City
This private institution is ranked #17 best value in New York and #119 nationwide.
University at Albany in Albany
This public SUNY institution is ranked #18 best value in New York and #57 nationwide.
University at Buffalo in Buffalo
This public SUNY institution is ranked #19 best value in New York and #128 nationwide.
University of Rochester in Rochester
This private university is ranked #20 best value in New York and #128 nationwide.
Yeshiva University in New York City
This private, Jewish institution is ranked #21 best value in New York and #54 nationwide.