2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in New York
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 43 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Erie Community College, our #1 best value for general social sciences in New York. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt.
Suny Empire State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
Rockland Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,862. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $41,799. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Mercy College, which ranked #4. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,880. Students borrow a median of $26,978 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $36,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercy College admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5. Columbia University In The City Of New York 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 $70,517. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $28,844 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #7 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,450. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $24,700. General Social Sciences graduates of Saint Thomas Aquinas College earn a median of $44,519 early in their careers. Set against $24,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Saint Mary College landed the #8 spot for general social sciences value this year. Located in the city of Newburgh, Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,450. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $65,715. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt landed the #9 spot for general social sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Orangeburg, Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,220 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Dominican College Of Blauvelt earn a median of $28,351 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Adelphi University placed #10 among the best values for general social sciences. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,775. Students borrow a median of $26,593 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $51,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Adelphi University admits about 66% of applicants.
Touro College landed the #11 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Students borrow a median of $33,937 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Touro College earn a median of $40,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,937 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Bard College placed #12 among the best values for general social sciences. Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. In-state tuition and fees average $66,436. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $23,302. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
New York University earned the #13 position for value in general social sciences this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of New York University earn a median of $49,016 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College came in at #14 for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,594. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $30,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
More General Social Sciences Rankings
View All General Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
