2026 Best Value English Schools in New York
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) 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 91 schools to find the best return on investment for english students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value English Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Schools
For return on investment in english, no school beat Cuny Bernard M Baruch College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $61,459. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for english. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $12,431. English graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $27,958 early in their careers. Set against $12,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned it the #3 place for english. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $9,848 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $31,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. English graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $28,290 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for english. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for english graduates is $11,557. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $29,557. That is a strong return on a $11,557 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College landed the #6 spot for english value this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. English graduates carry a median of $13,782 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $27,082. Set against $13,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #7 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $11,391. Early-career english graduates make about $34,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #8 for value in english this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical student debt for english graduates is $8,858. English graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $31,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #9 for value in english this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Typical student debt for english graduates is $17,371. English graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $33,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #10 spot for english value this year. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. English graduates carry a median of $5,700 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $24,207. That is a strong return on a $5,700 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Suny College At Old Westbury ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Old Westbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $16,912. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $27,142. Set against $16,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Typical student debt for english graduates is $12,531. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $43,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Medgar Evers College admits about 86% of applicants.
Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #14 for value in english this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $8,224. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $35,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny York College earned the #15 position for value in english this year. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,308. Typical student debt for english graduates is $12,573. Early-career english graduates make about $26,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
Stony Brook University came in at #16 for value in english this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,606 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $29,480. That is a strong return on a $21,606 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Suny College At Brockport came in at #17 for value in english this year. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $26,090. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport generally make around $27,954. That is a strong return on a $26,090 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #18 for value in english this year. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,999, compared with $19,569 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $29,422. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs College New York landed the #19 spot for english value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,550 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for english graduates is $23,125. English graduates of Saint Josephs College New York earn a median of $28,605 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suny At Fredonia landed the #20 spot for english value this year. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Typical student debt for english graduates is $26,000. Early-career english graduates make about $34,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego earned the #21 position for value in english this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. English graduates carry a median of $26,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $31,331. That is a strong return on a $26,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Suny At Albany placed #22 among the best values for english. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $31,940. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Mercy College came in at #23 for value in english this year. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for english graduates is $27,000. English graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $37,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Plattsburgh placed #24 among the best values for english. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,035, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. English graduates carry a median of $21,024 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $24,995. That is a strong return on a $21,024 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #25 position for value in english this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,781. Typical student debt for english graduates is $24,920. Early-career english graduates make about $27,593. That is a strong return on a $24,920 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value English Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in english:
View All English 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 · 91 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
