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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 | Farmingdale, NY | $69,781 Median Earnings (10yr) | $3,865 | 69.1% | 57.1% | |
| #22 | Staten Island, NY | $53,501 Median Earnings (10yr) | $3,243 | — | 32.8% | |
| #23 | University At BuffaloPublic | Buffalo, NY | $70,814 Median Earnings (10yr) | $14,240 | 69.3% | 73.4% |
| #24 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | Vestal, NY | $80,596 Median Earnings (10yr) | $12,916 | 37.7% | 83.7% |
| #25 | University At AlbanyPublic | Albany, NY | $67,979 Median Earnings (10yr) | $13,066 | 69.9% | 63.9% |
| #26 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $114,862 Median Earnings (10yr) | $8,460 | 11.4% | 92.5% |
| #27 | Storrs, CT | $73,997 Median Earnings (10yr) | $13,936 | 53.9% | 83.8% | |
| #28 | Needham, MA | $129,455 Median Earnings (10yr) | $7,058 | 21.7% | 92.2% | |
| #29 | Boston, MA | $65,865 Median Earnings (10yr) | $13,072 | 83.0% | 51.1% | |
| #30 | Temple UniversityPublic | Philadelphia, PA | $63,727 Median Earnings (10yr) | $23,080 | 82.9% | 74.7% |
| #31 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | Bethlehem, PA | $105,584 Median Earnings (10yr) | $15,440 | 29.3% | 89.2% |
| #32 | Suffern, NY | $89,548 Median Earnings (10yr) | — | 34.7% | — | |
| #33 | Kings Point, NY | $90,610 Median Earnings (10yr) | $3,476 | 32.5% | 80.6% | |
| #34 | Babson CollegePrivate | Wellesley, MA | $123,938 Median Earnings (10yr) | $21,270 | 19.7% | 92.4% |
| #35 | Brown UniversityPrivate | Providence, RI | $93,487 Median Earnings (10yr) | -$2,158 | 5.2% | 96.0% |
| #36 | Camden, NJ | $74,479 Median Earnings (10yr) | $16,678 | 77.8% | 66.5% | |
| #37 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | Hanover, NH | $97,434 Median Earnings (10yr) | $2,978 | 6.2% | 96.0% |
| #38 | Stamford, CT | $73,997 Median Earnings (10yr) | $9,196 | 80.2% | 56.9% | |
| #39 | Cuny York CollegePublic | Jamaica, NY | $56,945 Median Earnings (10yr) | $3,267 | 59.4% | 30.3% |
| #40 | Mcphs UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $125,557 Median Earnings (10yr) | $31,100 | 85.2% | 63.3% |
