Explore New York Colleges
Colleges in New York
Explore 207 colleges and universities in New York, including 43 public institutions and 164 private schools. Compare tuition costs, acceptance rates, and find your perfect fit.
207
Total Colleges
43
Public
164
Private
New York at a Glance
Avg Acceptance Rate
5947%
Average acceptance rate for New York colleges
Avg Net Price
$19,596.979
After financial aid
Avg In-State Tuition
$23,941.616
For public universities
New York College Systems
New York has several major public university systems that serve students across the state. Understanding these systems can help you find the right fit.
CUNY serves over 275,000 students across New York City with 25 institutions, offering affordable education in the heart of the city.
Explore New York by Region
New York is a diverse state with distinct college regions. Explore schools by area to find the campus environment that fits your lifestyle.
See how New York colleges compare head-to-head on acceptance rates, costs, and outcomes.
New York Colleges Directory
Browse 207 colleges in New York, sorted by ranking and selectivity.

New York, NY•Private
4%
Acceptance Rate$79,569/yr
1510-1580
92%
"Manhattan's urban Ivy where first-years debate Plato amid skyscrapers and subway rhythms."

New York, NY•Private
9%
Acceptance Rate$78,914/yr
1480-1560
87%
"NYU catapults you into New York's electric chaos, where aspiring artists, financiers, and global thinkers hustle amid skyscrapers and street performers."

Rochester, NY•Private
40%
Acceptance Rate$80,342/yr
1410-1540
87%
"Pioneering optics whizzes and symphony savants flock to Rochester's brainy, snowy river campus."

Ithaca, NY•Private
9%
Acceptance Rate$81,884/yr
1500-1570
96%
"Gorge-framed Ivy League land-grant university where hoteliers train alongside engineers amid upstate New York's steep hills."

New York, NY•Private
9%
Acceptance Rate$82,192/yr
1470-1560
93%
"Barnard's fierce, all-women undergrad haven in NYC lets you earn a Columbia degree while forging unapologetic leadership in a city that never sleeps."

Poughkeepsie, NY•Private
19%
Acceptance Rate$82,080/yr
1450-1550
92%
"Vassar College: the quirky Hudson Valley liberal arts haven where eccentric intellectuals and artists debate philosophy over farm-fresh ice cream."

Vestal, NY•Public
39%
Acceptance Rate$26,420/yr
1340-1500
84%
"Binghamton University delivers Ivy-level ambition and outcomes at a fraction of the price, turning Tri-State grinders into global achievers."

Hamilton, NY•Private
14%
Acceptance Rate$81,514/yr
1430-1540
91%
"Colgate molds ambitious, outdoorsy overachievers into finance titans and policymakers amid upstate New York's endless trails and blizzards."

Clinton, NY•Private
14%
Acceptance Rate$79,560/yr
1450-1550
91%
"In a quiet upstate New York village, Hamilton equips fiercely independent thinkers with an open curriculum that lets you design your own intellectual adventure amid rolling hills and brutal winters."

Syracuse, NY•Private
46%
Acceptance Rate$77,628/yr
1270-1440
83%
"Snow-blanketed powerhouse where communications wizards sharpen skills amid rabid basketball fandom and Greek life energy."

Bronx, NY•Private
59%
Acceptance Rate$81,010/yr
1320-1480
82%
"Fordham blends Jesuit soul-searching with New York City's relentless energy across its split-personality campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan."

Stony Brook, NY•Public
49%
Acceptance Rate$25,266/yr
1330-1500
77%
"Stony Brook catapults driven STEM strivers from Long Island suburbs into national research spotlights, blending big-university muscle with beachside proximity to New York City."

Buffalo, NY•Public
74%
Acceptance Rate$24,496/yr
1210-1380
75%
"Buffalo's gritty public research powerhouse, where ambitious undergrads dive into top-tier engineering and medicine amid endless lake-effect snow."

Saratoga Springs, NY•Private
21%
Acceptance Rate$79,072/yr
1340-1480
83%
"Skidmore fuses intimate liberal arts with Saratoga Springs' horse-racing glamour and artistic undercurrents, perfect for students who crave creativity amid New York's rural elegance."

New York, NY•Private
56%
Acceptance Rate$61,500/yr
1340-1510
83%
"Yeshiva University fuses daily Torah study with secular excellence in bustling New York City, ideal for observant Orthodox Jews balancing faith and ambition."

Troy, NY•Private
63%
Acceptance Rate$76,720/yr
1375-1510
85%
"America's oldest tech institute, where hands-on hackers and bridge-builders thrive in a gritty upstate lab since 1824."

Hempstead, NY•Private
68%
Acceptance Rate$71,157/yr
1230-1400
68%
"Long Island private university that hosts presidential debates and powers media, business, and law careers steps from New York City."

Rochester, NY•Private
67%
Acceptance Rate$69,506/yr
1300-1460
71%
"RIT launches you into the workforce with co-ops that pay real salaries while you're still in school."

Schenectady, NY•Private
44%
Acceptance Rate$80,613/yr
1310-1480
84%
"Private liberal arts college founded 1795 in Schenectady, NY, with engineering programs."

Purchase, NY•Public
74%
Acceptance Rate$23,506/yr
1185-1380
67%
"Rockefeller's 1967 experiment in public arts education, blending conservatory intensity with liberal arts freedom on a wooded Westchester estate."

Ithaca, NY•Private
69%
Acceptance Rate$64,318/yr
1230-1390
79%
"Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY."

Bronxville, NY•Private
62%
Acceptance Rate$79,126/yr
1240-1430
77%
"Intimate seminars and self-designed studies draw independent artists and thinkers to this progressive liberal arts college in a leafy New York suburb."

New Paltz, NY•Public
62%
Acceptance Rate$23,754/yr
1170-1340
77%
"State University of New York at New Paltz is located in New Paltz, NY."

New York, NY•Private
76%
Acceptance Rate$70,705/yr
1180-1340
63%
"Pace University blends New York City's electric energy with a practical, career-driven education right in the heart of Manhattan."

New York, NY•Private
21%
Acceptance Rate$44,550/yr
1295-1501
86%
"The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is located in New York, NY."

New York, NY•Private
61%
Acceptance Rate$31,620/yr
1218-1453
59%
"Jewish-sponsored network of campuses across New York City training professionals in health sciences and business."

Geneva, NY•Private
64%
Acceptance Rate$78,118/yr
1190-1385
72%
"Twin liberal arts colleges on Seneca Lake where Hobart's rugged traditions clash and complement William Smith's trailblazing spirit in a tight-knit lakeside haven."

Poughkeepsie, NY•Private
57%
Acceptance Rate$65,000/yr
1190-1340
80%
"Marist College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY."

Canton, NY•Private
54%
Acceptance Rate$78,600/yr
1255-1420
85%
"In New York's remote North Country, St. Lawrence forges resilient bonds between students, snowy wilderness, and intimate seminars amid the world's longest river."

Albany, NY•Public
69%
Acceptance Rate$23,493/yr
1120-1320
70%
"Public research hub fueling public policy and nanoscience careers from New York's state capital."

Queens, NY•Private
83%
Acceptance Rate$66,790/yr
1150-1340
72%
"St. John's University-New York is located in Queens, NY."

Houghton, NY•Private
89%
Acceptance Rate$27,340/yr
1170-1375
67%
"Faith-driven liberal arts in a rural New York gorge, where students build deep bonds through chapel, service, and small classes."

New York, NY•Private
83%
Acceptance Rate$59,592/yr
1105-1323
57%
"Small performing arts powerhouse tucked into Manhattan's Upper East Side, where actors and dancers train alongside psychology and business majors."

Syracuse, NY•Private
83%
Acceptance Rate$52,530/yr
1160-1330
77%
"Le Moyne College is located in Syracuse, NY."

Garden City, NY•Private
66%
Acceptance Rate$62,113/yr
1120-1340
76%
"Suburban Long Island university excelling in performing arts and nursing amid easy New York City access."

Hyde Park, NY•Private
91%
Acceptance Rate$48,880/yr
928-1183
76%
"Culinary Institute of America is located in Hyde Park, NY."

Oneonta, NY•Private
70%
Acceptance Rate$65,486/yr
1070-1290
65%
"Tiny liberal arts college in upstate New York's hills, where nursing students start clinical rotations as freshmen and sustainability shapes daily life."

Loudonville, NY•Private
69%
Acceptance Rate$58,030/yr
1110-1360
78%
"Siena College is located in Loudonville, NY."

Riverdale, NY•Private
79%
Acceptance Rate$62,900/yr
1180-1358
76%
"Manhattan College is located in Riverdale, NY."

Brookville, NY•Private
86%
Acceptance Rate$56,530/yr
1110-1350
60%
"A dynamic private university in Brookville, NY, blending suburban calm with easy access to New York City's endless possibilities."

New York, NY•Private
49%
Acceptance Rate$59,702/yr
1440-1580
85%
"Jewish Theological Seminary of America is located in New York, NY."

Buffalo, NY•Public
73%
Acceptance Rate$23,164/yr
980-1240
52%
"SUNY Buffalo State University is located in Buffalo, NY."

Alfred, NY•Private
74%
Acceptance Rate$51,614/yr
1095-1310
63%
"Alfred University is located in Alfred, NY."

Potsdam, NY•Private
77%
Acceptance Rate$73,212/yr
1200-1390
79%
"Hands-on engineering haven in New York's snowy North Country, where students build rockets and race cars from day one."

Morrisville, NY•Public
92%
Acceptance Rate$23,556/yr
990-1230
54%
"SUNY Morrisville is located in Morrisville, NY."

Brooklyn, NY•Private
73%
Acceptance Rate$72,911/yr
1150-1390
74%
"Pratt Institute-Main is located in Brooklyn, NY."

Syracuse, NY•Public
34%
Acceptance Rate$7,070/yr
1030-1230
84%
"Upstate Medical University is located in Syracuse, NY."

Buffalo, NY•Private
72%
Acceptance Rate$43,740/yr
1050-1320
76%
"Canisius College is located in Buffalo, NY."

Staten Island, NY•Private
88%
Acceptance Rate$65,410/yr
1190-1290
76%
"Wagner College is located in Staten Island, NY."

West Point, NY•Public
12%
Acceptance RateN/A
1200-1430
84%
"At West Point, you trade four years of free college for a lifetime of leadership forged in the fire of military discipline on the Hudson's rugged bluffs."
Showing top 50 of 207 colleges in New York
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Colleges
Columbia University in the City of New York is the highest-ranked university in New York, ranked #7 nationally. The state is home to several prestigious institutions offering world-class education across various fields.
The average tuition at New York colleges varies by institution type. For public universities, the average in-state tuition is $23,942 per year. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,971. After financial aid, the average net price is $19,597.
The average acceptance rate for colleges in New York is 59%. However, acceptance rates vary significantly by institution, with some highly selective universities accepting less than 10% of applicants while others maintain open enrollment policies.
New York has several major public university systems: State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY). Together, these systems include 89 campuses serving hundreds of thousands of students. SUNY is the largest comprehensive public university system in the US, with 64 campuses ranging from community colleges to flagship research universities.
The State University of New York (SUNY) has 64 campuses and suny is the largest comprehensive public university system in the us, with 64 campuses ranging from community colleges to flagship research universities. The City University of New York (CUNY) has 25 campuses and cuny serves over 275,000 students across new york city with 25 institutions, offering affordable education in the heart of the city.
To qualify for in-state tuition at New York public universities, you typically need to establish residency for at least 12 months before enrolling. Requirements usually include living in the state, having a New York driver's license, registering to vote in the state, and demonstrating intent to remain. Specific requirements vary by institution, so check with your chosen school's admissions office.
New York is located in the Northeast region of the United States. Home to the Ivy League and some of America's oldest universities, the Northeast offers a rich academic tradition with diverse urban and rural campuses.
New York offers a range of affordable college options. The average net price after financial aid is $19,597. Public universities in New York provide particularly strong value for in-state residents, with lower tuition rates and access to state financial aid programs.