2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in New York
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) 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 5 schools to find the best return on investment for applied economics students.
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2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked Farmingdale State College the best value for a degree in applied economics in New York. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,626, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $19,528 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $50,374. Set against $19,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Farmingdale State College admits about 63% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in applied economics will find it at Suny College At Buffalo, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $26,000. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $41,547. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Students looking for strong value in applied economics will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $20,225 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $20,225 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in applied economics will find it at Suny At Binghamton, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $19,919. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $51,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
More Applied Economics Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.
