2026 Best Value General History Schools in New York
[General History](/majors/history/history/general-history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 86 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general history schools.
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2026 Best Value General History Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General History Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in general history in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $10,500. General History graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $28,790 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general history, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete the general history program here. Early-career general history graduates make about $61,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #3 place for general history. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. General History graduates carry a median of $15,090 in student loans. General History graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $43,874 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny College Of Staten Island one of the best values for general history. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,648 to complete the general history program here. Early-career general history graduates make about $51,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general history will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #5. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $13,000. Early-career general history graduates make about $27,769. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny City College earned the #6 position for value in general history this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $11,487. Soon after graduation, general history degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $30,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general history schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $12,678. Early-career general history graduates make about $43,545. Set against $12,678 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College placed #8 among the best values for general history. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $13,303. Soon after graduation, general history degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $18,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #9 for value in general history this year. Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Old Westbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,372, while out-of-state students pay about $18,842. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $16,800. Soon after graduation, general history degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $33,901. Set against $16,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Old Westbury admits about 84% of applicants.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general history schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. General History graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Early-career general history graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #11 spot for general history value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. General History graduates carry a median of $8,794 in student loans. Early-career general history graduates make about $30,111. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Suny Empire State College landed the #12 spot for general history value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $30,992. General History graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stony Brook University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general history schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, general history degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $36,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Suny At Geneseo earned the #14 position for value in general history this year. Located in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,999, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. General History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. General History graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of $28,664 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Geneseo admits about 66% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #15 spot for general history value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. General History graduates carry a median of $25,394 in student loans. Early-career general history graduates make about $35,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #16 for value in general history this year. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,035, compared with $18,945 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $23,439. General History graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $28,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport placed #17 among the best values for general history. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,752, while out-of-state students pay about $15,822. Students borrow a median of $25,446 to complete the general history program here. General History graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $22,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,446 median debt. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny At Albany landed the #18 spot for general history value this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,034 to complete the general history program here. General History graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $32,174 early in their careers. Set against $23,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Saint Josephs College New York landed the #19 spot for general history value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,550. General History graduates carry a median of $24,717 in student loans. Early-career general history graduates make about $49,214. Set against $24,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #20 position for value in general history this year. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. General History graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Early-career general history graduates make about $36,625. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general history schools. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. General History graduates carry a median of $19,303 in student loans. General History graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $20,124 early in their careers. Set against $19,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego placed #22 among the best values for general history. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. General History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General History graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $28,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #23 for value in general history this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for general history graduates is $22,000. Early-career general history graduates make about $53,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny College At Potsdam ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general history schools. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the general history program here. General History graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of $32,485 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University At Buffalo placed #25 among the best values for general history. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. General History graduates carry a median of $23,392 in student loans. General History graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $28,857 early in their careers. Set against $23,392 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rest of the Top 49 Best Value General History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general history value ranking:
More General History Rankings
View All General History 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 · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.
