2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools in New York
[Other Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/other-social-sciences/) 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 22 schools to find the best return on investment for other social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured Other Social Sciences Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Sociology
Learn to analyze social factors and become an advocate for individual and community health with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools
For return on investment in other social sciences, no school beat Suny Empire State College this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the other social sciences program here. Other Social Sciences graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #2 place for other social sciences. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for other social sciences graduates is $26,000. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $53,435. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The Sage Colleges earned it the #3 place for other social sciences. The Sage Colleges is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,164. Students borrow a median of $26,865 to complete the other social sciences program here. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $27,436. Set against $26,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The Sage Colleges admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Rochester is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Other Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,366 in student loans. Other Social Sciences graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $37,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,366 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Bard College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value other social sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,436. Typical student debt for other social sciences graduates is $26,402. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $35,861. Set against $26,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bard College admits about 52% of applicants.
New York University placed #6 among the best values for other social sciences. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Other Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,188 in student loans. Early-career other social sciences graduates make about $35,772. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
More Other Social Sciences Rankings
View All Other Social Sciences Rankings >
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
