Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New York (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 27 schools in New York that offer Liberal Arts by median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. Molloy University leads the list at $71,097, followed by CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at $68,471 and New York University at $66,502.
Across the 25 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings range from $71,097 to $21,052, with a median of $51,363. For 6 of the 27 listed schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 11 public and 16 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College posts the lowest average net price at $3,033, while CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 2nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
Cornell University reports the highest six-year completion rate on the page at 95%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molloy University · Rockville Centre, NY | $71,097 | $24,347 | $17,548 | 81.7% |
| Molloy University reports $71,097 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $24,347. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (26 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · New York, NY | $68,471 | $3,033 | $607 | 47.5% |
| With an average net price of $3,033, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 2nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | New York University · New York, NY | $66,502 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University admits 9% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 88%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (549 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($66,502) | |||||
| 4 | Pace University · New York, NY | $65,637 | $30,892 | $26,473 | 75.9% |
| Pace University graduates 60% of its students within six years and shows median earnings of $65,637 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (31 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | St. Francis College · Brooklyn, NY | $64,725 | $18,129 | $15,700 | Not reported |
| St. Francis College lists an average net price of $18,129 and median earnings of $64,725 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (12 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Rochester Institute of Technology · Rochester, NY | $63,845 | $34,906 | $24,680 | 66.9% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology reports an admission rate of 67% and an average net price of $34,906. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (92 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($63,845) | |||||
| 7 | The New School · New York, NY | $62,976 | $58,741 | $50,140 | 63.5% |
| The New School ranks 1419th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $62,976 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (90 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($62,976) | |||||
| 8 | CUNY Medgar Evers College · Brooklyn, NY | $61,987 | $5,718 | $4,368 | 86.1% |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College posts a six-year completion rate of 20% and an average net price of $5,718. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($61,987) | |||||
| 9 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $58,063 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
| An average net price of $3,776 coincides with median earnings of $58,063 for Liberal Arts graduates of CUNY City College four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (87 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($58,063) | |||||
| 10 | St. John's University-New York · Queens, NY | $52,601 | $29,999 | $27,787 | 83.4% |
| St. John's University-New York admits 83% of applicants and graduates 66% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | St. Joseph's University-New York · Brooklyn, NY | $52,543 | $19,035 | $16,876 | 72.1% |
| Median earnings of $52,543 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing accompany a six-year completion rate of 69% at St. Joseph's University-New York. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($52,543) | |||||
| 12 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh · Plattsburgh, NY | $52,108 | $17,156 | $9,400 | 78.4% |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh reports median earnings of $52,108 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 78%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($52,108) | |||||
| 13 | SUNY Old Westbury · Old Westbury, NY | $51,363 | $11,282 | $6,645 | 83.6% |
| SUNY Old Westbury reports $51,363 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $11,282. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (25 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | College of Staten Island CUNY · Staten Island, NY | $49,129 | $5,579 | $3,903 | 92.3% |
| College of Staten Island CUNY admits 92% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 34%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($49,129) | |||||
| 15 | Sarah Lawrence College · Bronxville, NY | $48,225 | $41,437 | $29,876 | 61.7% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Bronxville, Sarah Lawrence College has an average net price of $41,437 and graduates 71% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (318 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($48,225) | |||||
| 16 | SUNY at Purchase College · Purchase, NY | $47,922 | $18,913 | $11,835 | 74.1% |
| SUNY at Purchase College reports median earnings of $47,922 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate is 74%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($47,922) | |||||
| 17 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $46,705 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| With an average net price of $11,346, SUNY Buffalo State University ranks 269th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (109 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($46,705) | |||||
| 18 | Mercy University · Dobbs Ferry, NY | $46,408 | $14,072 | $11,974 | 85.8% |
| Mercy University reports a six-year completion rate of 46% and an average net price of $14,072. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (76 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $46,072 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University admits 9% of applicants, the lowest admission rate on this list, and graduates 95% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (18 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | State University of New York at Cortland · Cortland, NY | $44,687 | $22,345 | $12,550 | 59.8% |
| State University of New York at Cortland reports median earnings of $44,687 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 68%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($44,687) | |||||
| 21 | Hobart William Smith Colleges · Geneva, NY | $42,682 | $31,563 | $14,650 | 64.0% |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges reports median earnings of $42,682 for its Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing, and its admission rate is 64%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (10 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Roberts Wesleyan University · Rochester, NY | $40,527 | $23,130 | $22,922 | 70.6% |
| Roberts Wesleyan University reports median earnings of $40,527 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $23,130. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice · New York, NY | $34,704 | $3,203 | $1,073 | 57.1% |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice reports median earnings of $34,704 for its Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing, and its average net price is $3,203. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (13 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | Daemen University · Amherst, NY | $28,236 | $18,693 | $10,773 | 68.3% |
| Daemen University reports median earnings of $28,236 for its Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 59%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (46 graduates) | |||||
| 25 | Utica University · Utica, NY | $23,649 | $19,108 | $13,290 | 92.0% |
| Utica University reports $23,649 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 56%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) | |||||
| 26 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $21,894 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 59.3% |
| Fordham University, a private nonprofit university in Bronx, admits 59% of applicants and shows an average net price of $44,338. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (17 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $21,052 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz ranks 27th on this list, with a median of $21,052 two years after completing, and its average net price is $18,809. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (14 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 6 of the 27 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 25 schools with a reported completion median. The gap between first-ranked Molloy University and second-ranked CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is $2,626.