2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in New York
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering & applied physics students.
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2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering & applied physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #1 spot for value among engineering & applied physics schools in New York. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Cornell University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering & applied physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $15,005. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $75,976. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Siena College earned it the #3 place for engineering & applied physics. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. In-state tuition and fees average $45,805. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Siena College generally make around $44,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Fordham University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $25,643. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $59,403. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
More Engineering & Applied Physics Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
