2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in New York
[Teacher Assistant/Aide](/majors/education/teaching-assistants-aides/teacher-assistant-aide/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher assistant/aide students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teacher assistant/aide, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools
Suffolk County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among teacher assistant/aide schools in New York. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned it the #2 place for teacher assistant/aide. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $23,672 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Cuny Hostos Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,254 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher assistant/aide graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Cuny Hostos Community College generally make around $24,283. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Cuny Kingsborough Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $8,380 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $21,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Cuny Medgar Evers College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,352, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Students borrow a median of $12,531 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Early-career teacher assistant/aide graduates make about $43,434. That is a strong return on a $12,531 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Greene Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher assistant/aide schools. Set in the rural area of Hudson, Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,048, with out-of-state students paying around $11,448. Students borrow a median of $19,168 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Columbia Greene Community College earn a median of $44,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,168 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #7 for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Students borrow a median of $12,868 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $43,989 early in their careers. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College came in at #8 for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher assistant/aide graduates is $8,756. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Finger Lakes Community College earned the #9 position for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Canandaigua. Students from in state pay about $6,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,736 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Finger Lakes Community College earn a median of $40,467 early in their careers. Set against $16,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Teacher Assistant/Aide Rankings
View All Teacher Assistant/Aide Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
