The 10 Cheapest Colleges in New York

What’s Covered: 

• Tips for Saving Money on College
• 10 Most Affordable Colleges in New York
• How Much Will You Pay for College?

College can be really expensive! For many students, one of the most important considerations when choosing a school is the cost of earning a degree. If you are interested in attending a school in New York and are looking for an affordable college education, we’ve put together this list of the ten most affordable colleges in New York. 

It’s important to note that this list is based on the sticker price before financial aid is applied. 

Tips for Saving Money On College

Look for schools that will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need 

Demonstrated financial need is the gap between the full cost of attending college and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA. The Tuition of attendance includes all of the expenses associated with being a student at a given school: tuition, room, board, fees, books, and important personal purchases. Families with more financial resources are expected to contribute more and their EFC is higher than those who don’t have the same resources. 

Some colleges meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need, meaning they will cover the full difference between the Tuition of attendance and a student’s EFC. After financial aid is applied, expensive private colleges may be more affordable than in-state tuition at a public university. 

In New York, the colleges that will pay 100 percent of demonstrated financial need are: 

• Barnard College
• Colgate University
• Columbia University
• Hamilton College
• Skidmore College
• Union College
• Vassar College
• University of Rochester 

Attend an in-state public school

Public universities offer reduced tuition for resident students who choose to stay in-state for their college education. You will notice that the cost to attend a public university in another state is higher for out-of-state students. 

There are many great in-state public school options in New York, namely the SUNY (State University of New York) and CUNY (City University of New York) schools. Many of these schools offer excellent academics, unique extracurricular opportunities, and appealing locations, as well as reduced tuition rates for New York residents.

Commute to school

Living on campus can cost almost as much as the cost of tuition. Many students opt to live at home to dramatically lower the price of getting a degree. These arrangements may also be a better fit for working while attending classes.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in New York

It’s important to note that for the following schools “tuition” refers to the Tuition of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board.

1. State University of New York at Albany | SUNY Albany

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $19,096/$35,666

Location: Albany, NY

Acceptance Rate: 52%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,500

SUNY Albany offers extensive student internship opportunities, particularly in state government and corporate sectors.The university is an R1 research-intensive institution for graduate and doctoral level study with strong programs in the social sciences, public law, life science, and atmospheric science. The New York State Writers Institute is also located here. 

Learn more about SUNY Albany and what it takes to get accepted. 

2. Brooklyn College

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $19,620/$24,655

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Acceptance Rate: 44%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,900

Brooklyn College is a part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, the largest public university system in the country. Its rich history as a university for students of immigrant families continues today with students from more than 140 countries and nearly 95 different languages spoken within the student body. In addition to its diversity of students, the curriculum offers 175 majors for undergraduate and graduate study for more than 18,000 students. 

Learn more about Brooklyn College and what it takes to get accepted. 

3.  State University of New York at Purchase | SUNY Purchase

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State:  $23,036/$32,816

Location: Purchase, NY

Acceptance Rate: 65%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,100

Located just outside of New York City, SUNY Purchase is a predominantly undergraduate institution known for liberal and fine arts. It offers conservatories in music, dance, and drama/theatre arts. Media studies and mass communication are also popular majors. Its proximity to New York City offers students and faculty easy access to the city’s extraordinary cultural and career opportunities. Graduate studies at SUNY Purchase offer master’s degrees in fine arts and music. 

Learn more about SUNY Purchase and what it takes to get accepted.

4. State University of New York at Fredonia | SUNY Fredonia

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $23,969/$33,879

Location: Fredonia, NY

Acceptance Rate: 76%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,400

Fredonia is located in rural western New York just two miles from Lake Erie. The college offers 80 majors and degree programs for students looking for an affordable, residential college town experience. One of the oldest schools in the country, Fredonia has a history for educating music teachers. While music is still an important focus, the school also offers programs in science, communications, and social sciences. 

Learn more about SUNY Fredonia and what it takes to get accepted. 

5. State University of New York Polytechnic Institute | SUNY Poly

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,130/$35,280

Location: Utica, NY

Acceptance Rate: 65%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,200

SUNY Polytechnic offers students opportunities for learning and extensive research in the sciences. Engineering and computer science are among the most popular fields of study. Business and marketing, health professions, and communications are also common among SUNY Polytechnic students. With just over 3,000 students enrolled, the school offers a 13:1 ratio of students to faculty. 

Learn more about SUNY Polytechnic Institute and what it takes to get accepted. 

6. State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,257/$35,167

Location: Potsdam, NY

Acceptance Rate: 64%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,200

SUNY Potsdam is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S. They provide 134 academic programs covering a wide range of subjects. Potsdam is home to the Crane School of Music, the School of Education and Professional Studies, and the School of Arts and Sciences. It has a rich cultural tradition in fine arts, liberal arts, and teacher education. 

Learn more about SUNY Potsdam and what it takes to get accepted. 

7. State University of New York at Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,292/$35,202

Location: Geneseo, NY

Acceptance Rate: 65%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,500

Geneseo is a liberal arts college focusing largely on undergraduate studies. There are 48 undergraduate majors and 25 interdisciplinary minors.The most popular majors at Geneseo are education, business, and the social sciences. Geneseo is also known as a “space grant” institution for research support from NASA and involvement in the New York Space Grant Consortium. 

Learn more about SUNY Geneseo and what it takes to get accepted. 

8. State University of New York at Oswego | SUNY Oswego

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,507/$35,417

Location: Oswego, NY

Acceptance Rate: 54%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,000

With more than 120 programs, students can explore a wide range of subjects at SUNY Oswego. Hands-on education is an important feature of the Oswego experience. From lab-based research opportunities to theatre productions to on-air broadcasting, students get to learn by doing. More than 400 students study abroad every year making them one of the leading study-abroad campuses in the SUNY system. 

Learn more about SUNY Oswego and what it takes to get accepted. 

9. State University of New York at Cortland | SUNY Cortland

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,744/$35,654

Location: Cortland, NY

Acceptance Rate: 44%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,300

SUNY Cortland students are typically interested in becoming physical education or early-elementary teachers. Education is the most popular major overall, with exercise science and sports management close behind. There is a proud tradition of excellence in athletics and academics at Cortland. Graduate programs offer master’s degrees in sports management and specialized master’s degrees in literacy education, school leadership, and education for students with communication disorders and disabilities. 

Learn more about SUNY Cortland and what it takes to get accepted. 

10. State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta

Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $25,782/$35,692

Location: Oneonta, NY

Acceptance Rate: 51%

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,000

Located in the Catskill Mountains, Oneonta is a beautiful and picturesque college town. Known for teacher preparation, they also boast a 93% post-graduation employment rate for students. In addition to traditional majors, Oneonta also offers Human Ecology, Africana and Latin Studies, Meteorology, and Gerontology. 

Learn more about SUNY Oneonta and what it takes to get accepted. 

How Much Will You Pay for College?

Estimating the cost of a college education is not an easy task, but CollegeVine is here to help with our financial aid calculator! This tool can help your family find and maximize financial aid to get the most value out of your college costs. 

You should also check out our free chancing engine, which will calculate your chances of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country based on your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, demographics, and more. 

Use both of these tools to plan your college finances and improve your profile!