Home to 378 ranked institutions, the Northeast offers a diverse higher education landscape dominated by private colleges (73%) alongside strong public universities. Graduates earn a median of $63,186 ten years after enrollment, with earnings ranging from $17,360 to $143,372—demonstrating significant variation in outcomes across the region.
Northeast graduates earn $7,369 higher than the national average, with Cuny Bernard M Baruch College leading at $75,971 in median earnings. The top three performers—Baruch College, Cuny Hunter College ($63,163), and Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($74,479)—showcase how strategic program selection directly impacts career trajectories in this competitive regional market.
While Cuny Bernard M Baruch College dominates the rankings, students seeking more accessible admissions should consider this same institution's balanced profile. With a 50% acceptance rate, it offers exceptional value by combining strong graduate outcomes with reasonable admissions standards—proving that top-tier results don't require exclusive access.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York, NY | $75,971 Median Earnings (10yr) | $745 | 50.5% | 72.1% | |
| #2 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | New York, NY | $63,163 Median Earnings (10yr) | $262 | 54.0% | 61.0% |
| #3 | New Brunswick, NJ | $74,479 Median Earnings (10yr) | $15,885 | 65.3% | 85.0% | |
| #4 | Cuny City CollegePublic | New York, NY | $66,039 Median Earnings (10yr) | $1,579 | 58.1% | 54.7% |
| #5 | Cuny Lehman CollegePublic | Bronx, NY | $58,013 Median Earnings (10yr) | $2,047 | 55.4% | 49.3% |
| #6 | New York, NY | $56,195 Median Earnings (10yr) | $1,290 | 57.2% | 55.5% | |
| #7 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | Princeton, NJ | $110,066 Median Earnings (10yr) | $2,518 | 4.5% | 97.1% |
| #8 | Cuny Brooklyn CollegePublic | Brooklyn, NY | $60,752 Median Earnings (10yr) | $1,466 | 53.7% | 56.6% |
| #9 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Cambridge, MA | $101,817 Median Earnings (10yr) | $2,895 | 3.5% | 97.3% |
| #10 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | Stony Brook, NY | $74,502 Median Earnings (10yr) | $12,744 | 49.0% | 77.8% |
| #11 | New York, NY | $102,491 Median Earnings (10yr) | $6,342 | 4.2% | 95.0% | |
| #12 | Cuny Queens CollegePublic | Queens, NY | $62,763 Median Earnings (10yr) | $1,816 | 68.5% | 60.2% |
| #13 | Montclair, NJ | $61,415 Median Earnings (10yr) | $9,482 | 87.4% | 64.3% | |
| #14 | Newark, NJ | $74,479 Median Earnings (10yr) | $14,840 | 78.7% | 67.6% | |
| #15 | Cambridge, MA | $143,372 Median Earnings (10yr) | -$4,129 | 4.7% | 96.1% | |
| #16 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $104,043 Median Earnings (10yr) | $4,079 | 8.2% | 95.1% |
| #17 | Newark, NJ | $84,276 Median Earnings (10yr) | $11,534 | 66.9% | 73.1% | |
| #18 | Yale UniversityPrivate | New Haven, CT | $100,533 Median Earnings (10yr) | $28,132 | 4.5% | 96.3% |
| #19 | Brooklyn, NY | $49,365 Median Earnings (10yr) | $3,681 | 80.7% | 19.4% | |
| #20 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $111,371 Median Earnings (10yr) | $1,026 | 5.9% | 96.8% |
