ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in New York

13 Colleges in the United States
699 Best Degrees Awarded
$48,672 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 43.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Homeland Security (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Homeland Security (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Emergency Management (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Emergency Management (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Emergency Management (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Emergency Management (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Emergency Management (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Emergency Management (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 3 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 3
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 3 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Best Schools for Best in New York

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

Leading the list is Suny At Binghamton, our #1 school for best. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 best students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Suny At Binghamton

2

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 175 best degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $57,403. Students borrow a median of $14,475 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

3

Farmingdale State College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Farmingdale State College awarded about 189 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $38,789 early in their careers. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Farmingdale State College

4
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

A rank of #4 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for best. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 best degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $41,220. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in best from Syracuse University

5

A rank of #5 makes Saint Josephs College New York one of the top schools for best. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs College New York graduates 69% of students within six years. Saint Josephs College New York awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,214 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,485. Read more about the best program at Saint Josephs College New York

6
Utica College crest
Utica College
Utica, NY

Utica College landed the #6 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Utica College awarded about 35 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Utica College earn around $69,701 in the first couple years of their career. Utica College graduates carry a median of $27,237 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Utica College

7

Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #7 spot for best this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 11 best degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $43,831. Students borrow a median of $19,721 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred

8

Pace University New York placed #8 among the best best schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 best students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $58,863 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Pace University New York

9
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 67 best degrees were awarded at Excelsior College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Excelsior College earn a median of $70,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,311. See the full best program report for Excelsior College

10

Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #10 spot for best this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. Long Island University C W Post Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. Long Island University C W Post Campus awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $61,547. Typical student debt for the program is $25,211. Read more about the best program at Long Island University C W Post Campus

11
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University earned the #11 position for best this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 best students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $38,773 early in their careers. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $24,848 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Hofstra University

12
Hilbert College crest
Hilbert College
Hamburg, NY

Hilbert College earned the #12 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Hamburg, Hilbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hilbert College awarded about 45 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Hilbert College earn a median of $32,374 early in their careers. Hilbert College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Hilbert College

13

Onondaga Community College came in at #13 for best this year. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Onondaga Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $35,781 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,623. Read more about the best program at Onondaga Community College

14

Herkimer County Community College landed the #14 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Herkimer County Community College awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Herkimer County Community College earn a median of $31,468 early in their careers. Herkimer County Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Herkimer County Community College

ADBLOCK #173
View All Best Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options