It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges in New York ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 62 colleges and universities across New York to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. While associate degree recipients from schools in New York earn an average starting salary of $37,075, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $37,508.
Starting Salary ( 22899 to 47721 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
When attending a school in New York, associate degree students accumulate an average of $15,515 in student debt before graduation.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
New York University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in New York for overall quality. NYU is located in New York, New York and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 90 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from NYU go into careers with an average salary of $57,035 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $59,462 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Fashion Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New York. This medium-sized public school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 1,751 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from FIT SUNY make an average of $18,719 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $27,116.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The New School. It ranked #3 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list. New School University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 122 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from New School University make an average of $44,003 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $47,509 in student loans.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in New York list means SUNY Westchester Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Valhalla, New York, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,391 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from SUNY Westchester Community College make an average of $30,417 a year.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in New York list means Rochester Institute of Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Rochester, New York, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 76 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
SUNY Empire State College landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. SUNY Empire is a medium-sized public school situated in Saratoga Springs, New York. It awarded 554 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from SUNY Empire is $62,409 during the early years of their career.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in Selden, New York, the large public school handed out 2,922 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Suffolk County Community College is $33,312 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,664.
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #8. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is located in Flushing, New York and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 162 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is $40,857 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,000.
Nassau Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #9. Nassau Community College is a fairly large public school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 2,247 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Nassau Community College make an average of $34,981 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,532 after getting their degree.
Monroe College landed the #10 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Bronx, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 875 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Monroe College make an average of $25,860 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,716 after getting their degree.
Excelsior University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Excelsior University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Albany, New York. It awarded 1,240 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Excelsior University go into careers with an average salary of $70,564 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,000 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #12, Bryant & Stratton College - Online did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Orchard Park, New York, and it awarded 902 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,352 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,733 in student loans.
Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North landed the #13 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in Liverpool, New York, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 111 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North make an average of $31,515 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,569.
Corning Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Corning, New York, the small public school handed out 338 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Corning Community College make an average of $37,916 per year during the early years of their career.
Plaza College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Plaza College is located in Forest Hills, New York and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 217 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Plaza College is $36,157 during the early years of their career.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Troy, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,310 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from HVCC make an average of $43,389 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,138 in student loans.
Alfred State College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in Alfred, New York, the small public school awarded 687 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Alfred State make an average of $41,578 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,458.
Bryant & Stratton College - Buffalo did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #18. Bryant & Stratton College - Buffalo is located in Buffalo, New York and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 186 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Bryant & Stratton College - Buffalo is $35,639 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,647 in student loans.
With a ranking of #19, College of Staten Island CUNY did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list. This fairly large public school is located in Staten Island, New York, and it awarded 587 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $23,549 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,131 in student loans.
Monroe Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Rochester, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,390 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Monroe Community College make an average of $36,233 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,082 after getting their degree.
Borough of Manhattan Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. BMCC is located in New York, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,971 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from BMCC go into careers with an average salary of $28,535 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,758 in student loans.
Rockland Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Suffern, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 805 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rockland Community College make an average of $25,423 per year during the early years of their career.
Tompkins Cortland Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Tompkins Cortland is located in Dryden, New York and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 403 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Tompkins Cortland go into careers with an average salary of $50,415 during the early years of their career.
Bryant & Stratton College - Albany did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking, coming in at #24. Bryant & Stratton College - Albany is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Albany, New York. It awarded 85 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Bryant & Stratton College - Albany make an average of $31,640 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,569 after getting their degree.
Dutchess Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 811 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from DCC make an average of $28,683 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,804 after getting their degree.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
