2026 College Guide Rankings

Since 2005, the Washington Monthly has ranked colleges based on what they do for the country. It’s our answer to U.S News & World Report, which relies on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity, and prestige. We rank schools based on their contribution to the public good in four broad categories: access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service.

How we rank All 2026 rankings Download the full data

What we measure

Access

Ranks colleges by how well they provide access to nonwealthy students. Among other metrics, it tracks how many students are on federal Pell Grants for low-to-middle-income families and compares that to how many Pell recipients those schools might be expected to enroll based on test scores, admission rates, and statewide family income.

Affordability

Ranks colleges by their affordability. It includes the net price of the institution, or the amount that students with family incomes below $75,000 pay, minus aid. It also tracks how much debt graduates leave with.

Outcomes

Ranks colleges by the academic and financial outcomes they provide to students. It tracks the percentage of students graduating within eight years and compares that to statistical predictions. It compares graduation rates between wealthy and nonwealthy students. It also tracks the incomes that students make in their early careers and compares that to their peers’ early-career incomes. Additionally, the outcomes category ranks colleges by the numbers of graduates who go on to receive PhDs.

Service

Ranks how well colleges do in promoting public service. It tracks numbers of graduates who enter AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, of ROTC cadets on campus, and of students who enroll in service-oriented majors like social work. Among other statistics, it also tracks colleges’ commitment to encouraging voting participation.

The Rankings – Northeast

Rank	School	State	Type	Net price	Earnings 4 yrs out	Graduates’ debt	8-yr grad rate	Access rank	Affordability rank	Outcomes rank	Service rank
1	MA Institute of Technology	MA	Private	$338	$161,961	$14,768	97%	141	16	1	192
2	Harvard University	MA	Private	$3,360	$134,794	$14,000	98%	154	18	2	146
3	Princeton University	NJ	Private	$3,074	$108,590	$10,320	98%	94	2	3	143
4	Johns Hopkins University	MD	Private	$2,995	$117,419	$10,250	94%	89	1	8	74
5	Williams College	MA	Private	$68	$80,487	$12,761	96%	176	6	6	75
6	CUNY Hunter College	NY	Public	$2,489	$73,236	$11,000	57%	2	3	242	148
7	Brown University	RI	Private	$3,963	$94,678	$11,428	96%	139	11	15	19
8	University of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	$5,638	$124,586	$15,715	97%	87	25	13	14
9	Yale University	CT	Private	$14,091	$112,971	$12,975	98%	78	36	4	62
10	Cornell University	NY	Private	$5,569	$113,372	$14,000	96%	73	20	14	36
11	Boricua College	NY	Private	$14,456	$50,662	$6,733	67%	15	17	9	301
12	Swarthmore College	PA	Private	$8,088	$65,618	$17,500	95%	90	37	22	13
13	Middlebury College	VT	Private	$11,557	$71,188	$13,857	93%	114	34	70	3
14	Dartmouth College	NH	Private	$2,895	$111,883	$17,500	95%	128	26	5	169
15	Bates College	ME	Private	$7,434	$70,028	$14,275	93%	220	23	33	12
16	Columbia Univ. in the City of NY	NY	Private	$5,357	$115,519	$21,500	93%	55	46	7	173
17	Tufts University	MA	Private	$11,994	$97,474	$16,250	94%	241	42	32	7
18	Wesleyan University	CT	Private	$5,843	$72,119	$17,000	92%	199	31	20	83
19	CUNY City College	NY	Public	$3,107	$67,740	$11,990	58%	4	12	319	324
20	CUNY Baruch College	NY	Public	$2,616	$82,748	$11,512	70%	5	9	235	371
21	Amherst College	MA	Private	$6,597	$79,243	$13,740	94%	160	21	10	198
22	Colby College	ME	Private	$2,898	$77,429	$19,157	89%	145	33	36	49
23	Haverford College	PA	Private	$8,048	$64,523	$13,621	92%	181	22	26	108
24	Hobart & William Smith Colls.	NY	Private	$16,245	$70,017	$27,000	75%	268	244	55	1
25	Gettysburg College	PA	Private	$16,462	$72,658	$26,999	83%	138	246	17	5
26	CUNY Lehman College	NY	Public	$3,264	$63,353	$10,950	58%	14	8	126	250
27	SUNY Geneseo	NY	Public	$12,933	$63,560	$19,500	75%	187	62	56	6
28	Lafayette College	PA	Private	$11,258	$91,758	$16,000	89%	311	39	21	52
29	Bowdoin College	ME	Private	$5,139	$79,722	$18,500	94%	103	35	19	174
30	SUNY Albany	NY	Public	$14,656	$66,256	$19,500	68%	23	72	117	28
31	Towson University	MD	Public	$10,270	$65,610	$18,718	73%	46	49	74	54
32	CUNY Brooklyn College	NY	Public	$2,880	$62,833	$11,000	58%	6	5	318	305
33	Wellesley College	MA	Private	$7,373	$72,449	$10,000	92%	99	14	47	211
34	CUNY John Jay Col. Crim. Just.	NY	Public	$2,969	$60,020	$11,000	61%	9	7	121	369
35	Montclair State University	NJ	Public	$11,897	$61,351	$22,000	71%	19	88	81	91
36	Goucher College	MD	Private	$17,858	$57,036	$26,000	63%	205	243	45	2
37	Carnegie Mellon University	PA	Private	$12,302	$132,971	$21,750	90%	70	89	11	199
38	Smith College	MA	Private	$9,490	$57,618	$17,550	90%	197	40	54	71
39	Rutgers Univ.–New Brunswick	NJ	Public	$16,467	$77,933	$21,500	84%	7	120	347	29
40	Franklin and Marshall College	PA	Private	$16,601	$74,391	$19,000	84%	228	86	28	51
41	Stockton University	NJ	Public	$14,425	$58,872	$20,500	76%	36	90	154	31
42	SUNY Oneonta	NY	Public	$14,402	$58,809	$19,812	74%	158	76	97	17
43	New York University	NY	Private	$15,850	$89,427	$20,500	88%	37	99	189	30
44	Rutgers University–Newark	NJ	Public	$15,676	$77,933	$21,500	71%	10	113	79	235
45	CUNY Queens College	NY	Public	$3,677	$68,713	$10,298	56%	12	4	327	319
46	Rutgers University–Camden	NJ	Public	$14,117	$77,933	$21,500	73%	53	97	72	93
47	SUNY Buffalo State Univ.	NY	Public	$11,715	$53,203	$21,028	48%	39	70	186	48
48	Bard College	NY	Private	$18,022	$45,380	$24,254	73%	196	195	90	4
49	Muhlenberg College	PA	Private	$16,337	$65,650	$25,455	82%	191	199	37	26
50	SUNY Oswego	NY	Public	$12,681	$59,955	$20,880	67%	63	77	107	89
51	Colgate University	NY	Private	$8,973	$77,917	$15,000	91%	275	30	34	212
52	Hamilton College	NY	Private	$9,430	$79,130	$17,000	91%	192	38	29	240
53	Southern NH University	NH	Private	$33,934	$67,139	$21,082	35%	1	328	390	124
54	Univ. of MD–Baltimore County	MD	Public	$11,981	$74,396	$19,500	70%	40	58	226	95
55	University of MD–College Park	MD	Public	$7,602	$84,365	$19,000	85%	29	43	260	153
56	University of Rochester	NY	Private	$15,598	$87,197	$21,000	88%	208	103	88	33
57	Boston College	MA	Private	$10,474	$96,145	$19,000	91%	232	52	67	122
58	Mount Holyoke College	MA	Private	$17,702	$54,450	$22,902	84%	137	164	62	60
59	University of MA–Amherst	MA	Public	$12,590	$78,620	$22,763	81%	41	100	211	66
60	Morgan State University	MD	Public	$12,171	$62,308	$27,250	53%	51	185	83	112
61	William Paterson University	NJ	Public	$14,698	$59,272	$22,334	62%	24	116	333	53
62	University of Baltimore	MD	Public	$15,255	$67,949	$23,250	55%	243	142	58	68
63	Farmingdale State College	NY	Public	$6,737	$65,444	$14,718	61%	164	24	254	131
64	Barnard College	NY	Private	$13,857	$72,527	$18,000	92%	173	56	80	157
65	Villanova University	PA	Private	$22,400	$104,228	$25,874	89%	169	289	46	35
66	Northeastern University	MA	Private	$5,271	$101,903	$24,250	91%	170	63	181	55
67	Dickinson College	PA	Private	$19,569	$67,139	$19,000	84%	238	111	66	85
68	Bryn Mawr College	PA	Private	$11,974	$57,476	$25,000	86%	312	134	65	45
69	Saint Peter’s University	NJ	Private	$10,817	$64,352	$20,500	58%	32	59	155	219
70	Notre Dame of MD University	MD	Private	$19,796	$75,732	$22,666	65%	315	188	96	11
71	Allegheny College	PA	Private	$17,464	$56,294	$27,000	72%	210	255	73	25
72	Juniata College	PA	Private	$18,536	$55,079	$27,000	74%	264	270	63	18
73	St. Lawrence University	NY	Private	$15,520	$66,273	$27,000	82%	240	231	43	57
74	Stony Brook University	NY	Public	$15,117	$81,850	$18,228	78%	8	64	337	248
75	University of Connecticut	CT	Public	$16,551	$78,925	$21,500	83%	61	121	174	97
76	CUNY NYC College of Tech.	NY	Public	$4,968	$64,145	$10,533	32%	13	10	375	341
77	Univ. of MA–Boston	MA	Public	$14,563	$69,532	$21,974	57%	26	109	336	90
78	Kean University	NJ	Public	$7,858	$59,472	$23,250	60%	31	68	238	186
79	Kean Univ.–Jersey City	NJ	Public	$14,537	$60,965	$18,500	54%	47	61	324	94
80	Lehigh University	PA	Private	$17,253	$101,748	$21,960	90%	113	140	39	214
81	Salisbury University	MD	Public	$11,274	$61,985	$21,000	70%	157	66	177	99
82	Boston University	MA	Private	$11,207	$83,615	$23,250	88%	86	96	138	138
83	Niagara University	NY	Private	$12,872	$67,652	$25,475	74%	339	153	38	98
84	SUNY Old Westbury	NY	Public	$9,251	$58,756	$14,997	62%	54	32	143	320
85	College of New Jersey	NJ	Public	$14,585	$72,068	$23,250	87%	313	131	93	50
86	New Jersey Institute of Tech.	NJ	Public	$13,060	$91,874	$21,000	81%	17	82	95	370
87	La Salle University	PA	Private	$16,778	$70,254	$25,000	64%	126	193	220	24
88	College of the Holy Cross	MA	Private	$14,751	$84,553	$27,000	92%	368	217	18	114
89	SUNY Brockport	NY	Public	$13,193	$57,799	$20,000	67%	120	69	213	110
90	College of the Atlantic	ME	Private	$15,483	$32,352	$25,050	66%	180	181	266	9
91	D’Youville University	NY	Private	$16,099	$84,182	$25,000	69%	310	189	64	63
92	Simmons University	MA	Private	$18,034	$73,823	$24,840	78%	104	210	241	20
93	Daemen University	NY	Private	$13,804	$70,310	$22,091	63%	143	102	86	180
94	SUNY New Paltz	NY	Public	$14,039	$56,933	$18,750	76%	92	60	159	183
95	CUNY College of Staten Island	NY	Public	$4,864	$65,495	$14,350	36%	18	19	368	330
96	CUNY Medgar Evers College	NY	Public	$6,332	$58,886	$10,988	30%	165	15	203	299
97	University of Vermont	VT	Public	$14,355	$62,009	$20,951	77%	212	93	366	8
98	SUNY College of Tech.–Delhi	NY	Public	$14,480	$56,927	$15,180	52%	118	44	356	79
99	Rhode Island College	RI	Public	$8,849	$59,430	$20,500	55%	216	54	265	69
100	Vassar College	NY	Private	$16,621	$61,818	$18,625	91%	108	79	61	278
101	Hood College	MD	Private	$16,752	$70,173	$25,000	65%	200	192	103	65
102	Holy Family University	PA	Private	$10,012	$82,892	$25,125	65%	256	115	127	76
103	Loyola University–Maryland	MD	Private	$23,944	$81,772	$27,000	80%	298	324	69	15
104	University of Mass.–Lowell	MA	Public	$12,002	$81,163	$23,704	66%	62	112	278	96
105	Drexel University	PA	Private	$29,814	$91,041	$25,325	72%	30	357	192	43
106	West Chester University of PA	PA	Public	$18,843	$64,804	$23,500	74%	115	191	179	56
107	McDaniel College	MD	Private	$15,806	$65,855	$25,000	67%	167	186	60	170
108	Frostburg State University	MD	Public	$13,022	$58,511	$21,105	60%	267	84	109	137
109	University of Mass.–Dartmouth	MA	Public	$16,261	$69,251	$25,000	55%	132	190	274	23
110	University of Scranton	PA	Private	$23,532	$79,409	$27,000	79%	202	320	76	37
111	SUNY Plattsburgh	NY	Public	$13,046	$58,319	$21,196	68%	102	85	182	168
112	Temple University	PA	Public	$22,320	$67,232	$24,395	75%	22	265	316	73
113	Saint Elizabeth University	NJ	Private	$17,793	$66,386	$24,934	63%	98	206	30	260
114	Bay Path University	MA	Private	$12,456	$62,912	$24,901	60%	25	139	114	279
115	Slippery Rock University of PA	PA	Public	$15,079	$57,301	$25,000	68%	289	175	190	22
116	University at Buffalo	NY	Public	$16,639	$71,430	$19,000	72%	21	87	188	310
117	Cooper U. Adv. of Science & Art	NY	Private	$7,006	$75,729	$15,000	84%	66	27	243	322
118	Central Connecticut State Univ.	CT	Public	$13,625	$67,245	$22,300	60%	206	105	210	86
119	University of Delaware	DE	Public	$11,652	$77,675	$24,572	81%	161	122	169	115
120	Salem State University	MA	Public	$14,089	$62,605	$25,000	62%	252	161	205	38
121	Millersville University of PA	PA	Public	$16,623	$57,515	$23,507	58%	253	163	308	10
122	Univ. of MD–Global Campus	MD	Public	$17,849	$87,025	$21,000	33%	16	127	175	317
123	SUNY Cortland	NY	Public	$15,285	$58,555	$21,500	70%	322	108	140	82
124	SUNY Binghamton	NY	Public	$15,977	$80,304	$18,500	82%	27	71	176	328
125	SUNY Fredonia	NY	Public	$12,429	$52,192	$24,250	63%	80	126	224	147
126	College of Mount Saint Vincent	NY	Private	$18,625	$83,648	$25,000	65%	127	227	57	205
127	Brandeis University	MA	Private	$15,967	$76,742	$25,648	89%	171	198	87	141
128	Monroe College	NY	For-profit	$10,832	$48,907	$18,818	57%	52	53	227	273
129	Coppin State University	MD	Public	$7,919	$63,359	$25,000	41%	318	94	118	125
130	Carlow University	PA	Private	$16,619	$67,381	$25,500	56%	300	203	125	47
131	Clark University	MA	Private	$18,119	$63,965	$26,759	77%	287	259	149	27
132	Rowan University	NJ	Public	$16,326	$62,686	$20,500	72%	58	101	230	200
133	Drew University	NJ	Private	$17,461	$59,259	$25,288	74%	250	216	42	182
134	Babson College	MA	Private	$19,150	$117,794	$20,000	93%	273	123	25	300
135	Penn State–Shenango	PA	Public	$13,776	$76,659	$25,000	45%	96	156	91	227
136	Vermont State University	VT	Public	$16,132	$56,249	$15,000	64%	237	47	264	151
137	Connecticut College	CT	Private	$19,234	$67,540	$23,500	83%	229	194	98	121
138	Post University	CT	For-profit	$20,338	$60,571	$30,157	18%	3	342	355	298
139	Mercy College	NY	Private	$13,561	$62,616	$19,637	56%	35	67	321	239
140	MA Maritime Academy	MA	Public	$8,295	$103,680	$25,000	82%	353	95	16	335
141	Pillar College	NJ	Private	$13,411	$44,376	$21,483	38%	42	92	84	385
142	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Bradford	PA	Public	$12,325	$73,701	$24,250	44%	50	124	147	261
143	University of Rhode Island	RI	Public	$14,297	$73,243	$22,250	72%	303	110	168	109
144	University of Maine	ME	Public	$13,943	$63,056	$25,000	56%	133	159	352	40
145	Lincoln University–PA	PA	Public	$13,749	$50,871	$28,250	48%	33	238	221	209
146	Univ. of NH–Manchester	NH	Public	$9,766	$71,253	$26,814	63%	231	144	51	267
147	Syracuse University	NY	Private	$18,972	$79,406	$26,000	83%	224	252	68	171
148	Bucknell University	PA	Private	$22,102	$96,035	$27,000	88%	325	307	24	202
149	Worcester State University	MA	Public	$10,490	$63,801	$19,500	62%	297	55	269	150
150	Norwich University	VT	Private	$18,205	$75,909	$25,000	61%	290	221	232	42
151	Washington College	MD	Private	$20,201	$58,768	$26,956	72%	306	286	151	41
152	Le Moyne College	NY	Private	$18,083	$66,403	$23,000	75%	159	171	209	140
153	Manhattan College	NY	Private	$26,058	$88,328	$26,000	73%	129	330	44	216
154	University of Southern Maine	ME	Public	$9,596	$60,816	$19,060	49%	230	48	348	155
155	Roberts Wesleyan University	NY	Private	$20,795	$64,802	$23,750	70%	177	232	77	210
156	Seton Hall University	NJ	Private	$21,347	$76,919	$22,750	69%	57	209	275	163
157	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Pittsburgh	PA	Public	$20,153	$73,701	$24,250	82%	123	234	310	59
158	Trinity College	CT	Private	$15,582	$83,645	$23,000	83%	335	141	31	302
159	CUNY York College	NY	Public	$4,710	$61,389	$11,000	40%	97	13	384	295
160	SUNY Empire State College	NY	Public	$9,633	$63,250	$18,730	48%	282	45	144	277
161	Maine Maritime Academy	ME	Public	$17,536	$113,298	$27,000	73%	321	257	12	325
162	SUNY College of Tech.–Canton	NY	Public	$12,602	$57,422	$20,000	52%	71	65	200	315
163	Wilkes University	PA	Private	$24,525	$69,197	$26,000	62%	155	313	183	67
164	Clarkson University	NY	Private	$22,290	$91,312	$26,000	76%	271	290	59	176
165	Ramapo College of New Jersey	NJ	Public	$13,094	$67,266	$21,000	71%	272	83	199	187
166	Duquesne University	PA	Private	$30,151	$74,665	$26,244	79%	262	366	162	16
167	Skidmore College	NY	Private	$14,673	$61,281	$19,500	85%	360	73	120	203
168	Pace University–New York	NY	Private	$27,331	$80,804	$23,250	62%	184	298	185	78
169	Southern CT State University	CT	Public	$18,214	$59,787	$22,250	56%	144	155	276	133
170	College of Our Lady of the Elms	MA	Private	$17,328	$64,421	$25,000	74%	45	202	273	201
171	Fitchburg State University	MA	Public	$11,901	$63,994	$24,239	59%	296	118	212	145
172	Elmira College	NY	Private	$18,911	$64,723	$27,000	64%	140	272	101	193
173	Wagner College	NY	Private	$23,187	$85,313	$25,000	71%	341	285	85	106
174	Saint John Fisher College	NY	Private	$20,716	$70,456	$23,250	77%	284	213	142	128
175	University of NH–Main	NH	Public	$17,885	$71,253	$26,814	78%	291	258	131	111
176	Touro College	NY	Private	$24,669	$73,235	$15,547	60%	56	107	309	244
177	Yeshiva University	NY	Private	$26,605	$93,796	$18,250	82%	258	183	35	321
178	Delaware State University	DE	Public	$13,306	$56,957	$26,000	49%	213	173	196	166
179	Felician University	NJ	Private	$31,056	$78,605	$25,000	62%	105	359	119	119
180	SUNY Ag. and Tech.–Cobleskill	NY	Public	$14,935	$50,709	$16,023	52%	222	50	372	144
181	St. Mary’s College of MD	MD	Public	$9,059	$60,029	$21,000	72%	357	57	82	294
182	SUNY Polytechnic Institute	NY	Public	$10,200	$73,730	$17,250	65%	84	41	292	334
183	Westminster College	PA	Private	$17,332	$54,065	$26,060	77%	304	239	128	129
184	Keuka College	NY	Private	$21,438	$58,373	$27,000	63%	147	301	198	103
185	Houghton College	NY	Private	$18,571	$41,835	$25,250	70%	93	237	136	237
186	Villa Maria College	NY	Private	$12,289	$41,151	$21,250	41%	125	78	134	342
187	Pennsylvania Western Univ.	PA	Public	$15,445	$54,553	$23,725	53%	106	152	304	167
188	Saint Joseph’s University	PA	Private	$28,086	$84,010	$25,500	78%	251	344	129	64
189	SUNY Maritime College	NY	Public	$16,061	$104,752	$23,250	74%	367	151	27	307
190	Bridgewater State University	MA	Public	$12,969	$59,669	$24,286	62%	204	132	249	175
191	Adelphi University	NY	Private	$24,597	$83,002	$25,000	72%	174	300	193	102
192	Alfred University	NY	Private	$18,880	$58,242	$26,000	61%	209	250	259	81
193	E. Stroudsburg University of PA	PA	Public	$15,156	$56,971	$24,218	53%	101	158	326	159
194	Gannon University	PA	Private	$17,201	$65,497	$27,000	67%	323	249	272	34
195	Lesley University	MA	Private	$27,465	$55,117	$21,000	62%	293	260	206	80
196	Canisius University	NY	Private	$14,117	$59,476	$24,250	69%	277	148	123	224
197	Eastern CT State University	CT	Public	$16,297	$57,759	$24,250	62%	255	176	317	84
198	Mercyhurst University	PA	Private	$21,018	$57,293	$25,305	65%	246	266	246	70
199	Messiah University	PA	Private	$19,515	$58,620	$25,621	77%	330	251	137	117
200	Saint Michael’s College	VT	Private	$17,508	$60,903	$26,922	76%	234	253	160	152
201	Chatham University	PA	Private	$22,473	$65,078	$23,250	68%	347	245	148	107
202	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	NY	Private	$24,300	$98,311	$23,750	86%	107	273	53	333
203	University of ME–Farmington	ME	Public	$12,399	$44,430	$24,499	57%	215	129	202	220
204	Bennington College	VT	Private	$20,398	$38,899	$26,000	68%	168	271	285	88
205	Union College	NY	Private	$17,303	$81,583	$25,337	85%	305	211	41	293
206	Centenary University	NJ	Private	$15,404	$63,207	$23,163	62%	178	143	106	306
207	Penn State University	PA	Public	$22,698	$76,659	$25,000	85%	134	277	208	162
208	SUNY Envir. Science & Forestry	NY	Public	$13,647	$57,774	$11,000	78%	276	28	314	311
209	University of ME–Presque Isle	ME	Public	$7,229	$48,577	$16,000	44%	348	29	173	364
210	Cedar Crest College	PA	Private	$21,278	$67,546	$27,000	57%	91	299	250	149
211	Berkeley Coll.–Woodland Park	NJ	For-profit	$20,743	$48,750	$23,251	51%	76	215	293	194
212	Washington & Jefferson College	PA	Private	$19,115	$66,045	$27,000	73%	249	274	50	270
213	Indiana University of PA–Main	PA	Public	$14,563	$57,450	$26,798	56%	152	204	240	184
214	MA College of Liberal Arts	MA	Public	$14,311	$48,835	$23,750	61%	194	138	146	268
215	American International College	MA	Private	$22,283	$71,565	$27,000	46%	217	311	133	160
216	Strayer University–Lower Bucks	PA	For-profit	$21,360	$68,449	$40,621	21%	20	392	23	373
217	Caldwell University	NJ	Private	$17,664	$64,716	$25,000	62%	49	205	223	286
218	SUNY Potsdam	NY	Public	$11,321	$49,169	$24,250	53%	193	114	204	258
219	St. Joseph’s Univ.–New York	NY	Private	$15,413	$64,336	$22,000	68%	166	117	289	215
220	Univ. of MD Eastern Shore	MD	Public	$11,286	$55,733	$27,000	41%	130	167	258	226
221	Chamberlain Univ.–New Jersey	NJ	For-profit	$34,725	$97,262	$20,919	61%	381	333	48	120
222	Thomas Jefferson University	PA	Private	$22,563	$87,195	$14,744	74%	117	75	385	156
223	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Greensburg	PA	Public	$12,411	$73,701	$24,250	39%	59	125	234	343
224	MA College of Art and Design	MA	Public	$17,031	$45,607	$25,755	71%	265	222	247	132
225	Rosemont College	PA	Private	$13,866	$59,674	$27,000	41%	218	200	49	365
226	St. Bonaventure University	NY	Private	$17,591	$62,639	$26,000	72%	365	240	135	139
227	Molloy University	NY	Private	$22,170	$96,058	$27,000	73%	227	309	99	197
228	Widener University	PA	Private	$25,944	$80,946	$27,000	65%	288	349	290	21
229	Plymouth State University	NH	Public	$16,079	$57,351	$26,000	58%	316	207	331	58
230	Seton Hill University	PA	Private	$18,392	$53,942	$27,000	68%	188	267	301	101
231	Fordham University	NY	Private	$33,117	$84,203	$24,300	81%	74	363	163	172
232	Sage Colleges	NY	Private	$18,884	$66,409	$22,000	67%	151	160	248	230
233	La Roche University	PA	Private	$18,391	$57,880	$25,000	60%	372	224	141	126
234	University of Maine–Fort Kent	ME	Public	$8,540	$74,979	$20,160	55%	392	51	165	189
235	Westfield State University	MA	Public	$12,689	$59,434	$22,457	64%	294	98	218	246
236	Bowie State University	MD	Public	$16,015	$65,066	$22,985	50%	248	145	100	323
237	SUNY Purchase College	NY	Public	$15,725	$45,570	$21,067	67%	60	106	252	360
238	Cheyney University of PA	PA	Public	$11,741	$49,989	$21,785	33%	116	81	236	355
239	Siena College	NY	Private	$26,470	$70,594	$26,561	78%	345	346	130	92
240	Wilmington University	DE	Private	$15,380	$69,354	$20,000	46%	358	91	184	243
241	Monmouth University	NJ	Private	$21,986	$68,968	$27,000	73%	175	306	122	218
242	Arcadia University	PA	Private	$23,278	$60,044	$27,000	64%	203	317	257	100
243	Suffolk University	MA	Private	$25,127	$74,456	$26,889	62%	286	334	225	72
244	Marywood University	PA	Private	$19,178	$60,125	$26,186	70%	242	261	262	130
245	Capitol Technology University	MD	Private	$20,497	$104,028	$20,264	53%	156	146	92	389
246	Penn State–Scranton	PA	Public	$14,523	$76,659	$25,000	34%	48	168	270	326
247	Stevens Institute of Technology	NJ	Private	$28,826	$112,538	$27,000	88%	85	365	89	252
248	Goldey-Beacom College	DE	Private	$15,730	$52,348	$18,900	63%	223	74	296	257
249	St. Francis College	NY	Private	$20,687	$58,523	$23,250	54%	72	212	191	318
250	Neumann University	PA	Private	$25,304	$72,633	$27,000	57%	150	340	112	225
251	Metropolitan College of NY	NY	Private	$24,829	$53,658	$27,688	43%	83	348	75	308
252	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Johnstown	PA	Public	$12,917	$73,701	$24,250	53%	201	130	139	348
253	Utica University	NY	Private	$16,191	$77,491	$22,500	63%	285	136	207	253
254	Penn State–Abington	PA	Public	$14,863	$76,659	$25,000	38%	43	172	291	357
255	Penn State–Hazleton	PA	Public	$14,840	$76,659	$25,000	25%	44	170	361	276
256	Shippensburg University of PA	PA	Public	$19,371	$59,882	$25,000	55%	257	242	322	127
257	Lycoming College	PA	Private	$14,007	$57,353	$27,000	64%	95	201	116	375
258	Nazareth College	NY	Private	$25,036	$57,472	$26,038	71%	235	318	300	87
259	Penn State Fayette–Eberly	PA	Public	$12,897	$76,659	$25,000	40%	124	147	283	280
260	Ithaca College	NY	Private	$25,152	$60,436	$24,000	77%	308	287	156	185
261	Central Penn College	PA	For-profit	$14,440	$52,318	$23,194	39%	292	128	329	188
262	Framingham State University	MA	Public	$13,104	$61,569	$25,000	61%	179	150	261	266
263	Susquehanna University	PA	Private	$20,914	$58,506	$27,000	76%	301	292	145	191
264	Emerson College	MA	Private	$36,551	$55,925	$23,000	79%	340	374	180	61
265	New York Institute of Tech.	NY	Private	$18,254	$81,370	$23,334	57%	28	182	377	274
266	Rochester Institute of Tech.	NY	Private	$25,509	$84,133	$26,778	73%	34	338	166	351
267	Penn State–Greater Allegheny	PA	Public	$12,923	$76,659	$25,000	25%	69	149	229	390
268	Alvernia University	PA	Private	$26,364	$67,275	$27,000	64%	244	351	357	39
269	Elizabethtown College	PA	Private	$19,675	$66,236	$27,000	71%	359	279	150	179
270	Stonehill College	MA	Private	$21,711	$73,137	$25,000	83%	371	269	104	207
271	Saint Vincent College	PA	Private	$17,522	$56,796	$27,000	74%	363	256	113	221
272	Unity College	ME	Private	$18,387	$45,016	$25,000	55%	11	223	378	384
273	Fairleigh Dickinson U.–Florham	NJ	Private	$15,323	$68,049	$25,000	64%	135	178	222	329
274	Bentley University	MA	Private	$23,750	$108,577	$25,023	89%	342	288	40	336
275	Georgian Court University	NJ	Private	$14,309	$62,671	$21,816	68%	299	104	288	254
276	Point Park University	PA	Private	$21,205	$53,024	$27,000	58%	79	297	195	285
277	Saint Anselm College	NH	Private	$27,224	$76,334	$27,000	81%	388	358	71	118
278	Albright College	PA	Private	$17,900	$57,502	$27,000	55%	64	263	172	372
279	Kutztown University	PA	Public	$16,866	$55,608	$26,000	57%	81	226	286	282
280	Mount St. Mary’s University	MD	Private	$17,548	$64,424	$25,391	65%	337	219	214	217
281	Lasell University	MA	Private	$21,173	$58,411	$26,000	63%	281	278	313	135
282	Gwynedd Mercy University	PA	Private	$22,560	$89,170	$25,000	68%	332	276	217	181
283	Penn State–New Kensington	PA	Public	$15,447	$76,659	$25,000	35%	198	179	171	346
284	Husson University	ME	Private	$15,722	$62,950	$27,000	58%	111	236	263	287
285	Lebanon Valley College	PA	Private	$22,130	$63,570	$27,000	69%	319	308	178	195
286	Keene State College	NH	Public	$13,865	$58,191	$25,749	62%	314	174	320	196
287	Penn State–Schuylkill	PA	Public	$15,451	$76,659	$25,000	27%	148	180	256	312
288	Ursinus College	PA	Private	$25,144	$65,033	$27,000	73%	221	337	108	263
289	Eastern University	PA	Private	$23,141	$54,681	$25,000	58%	162	284	153	313
290	Chestnut Hill College	PA	Private	$25,721	$55,964	$26,389	61%	67	331	152	352
291	Penn State–Wilkes-Barre	PA	Public	$12,270	$76,659	$25,000	29%	65	137	349	362
292	Hilbert College	NY	Private	$19,034	$53,063	$24,750	59%	109	228	167	387
293	Marist University	NY	Private	$29,111	$78,561	$25,000	80%	364	347	94	213
294	Saint Francis University	PA	Private	$25,616	$73,068	$27,000	67%	379	343	164	116
295	Commonwealth Univ. of PA	PA	Public	$14,169	$58,676	$26,000	56%	149	184	332	272
296	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	MA	Private	$28,758	$105,724	$27,000	89%	236	364	52	337
297	Western CT State University	CT	Public	$15,530	$60,346	$24,147	55%	336	162	282	241
298	University of Saint Joseph	CT	Private	$23,649	$73,035	$27,000	64%	239	322	237	204
299	Wentworth Institute of Tech.	MA	Private	$31,236	$95,027	$25,028	69%	245	361	110	249
300	Rhode Island School of Design	RI	Private	$29,744	$56,554	$27,000	91%	225	371	280	123
301	Dominican University	NY	Private	$28,372	$71,939	$25,000	55%	88	336	299	231
302	Mount Saint Mary College	NY	Private	$18,314	$77,894	$26,007	62%	327	247	187	264
303	Waynesburg University	PA	Private	$18,085	$59,019	$27,000	64%	260	264	216	269
304	King’s College	PA	Private	$19,293	$67,122	$27,000	61%	233	275	245	251
305	Salve Regina University	RI	Private	$29,318	$70,451	$27,000	75%	378	367	170	104
306	Rider University	NJ	Private	$18,859	$63,250	$26,130	67%	112	254	253	338
307	DeSales University	PA	Private	$24,212	$74,078	$25,788	60%	302	310	335	142
308	Penn State Erie–Behrend Coll.	PA	Public	$17,899	$76,659	$25,000	47%	131	214	268	349
309	Manhattanville College	NY	Private	$17,697	$68,011	$25,000	63%	354	208	197	265
310	Penn State–Brandywine	PA	Public	$18,182	$76,659	$25,000	29%	75	220	376	259
311	Hofstra University	NY	Private	$31,158	$72,921	$23,621	66%	195	345	360	134
312	York College of Pennsylvania	PA	Private	$15,378	$65,789	$26,000	65%	280	197	277	271
313	Robert Morris University	PA	Private	$19,980	$70,755	$26,950	63%	307	282	158	284
314	St. John’s University–New York	NY	Private	$24,411	$77,868	$25,000	69%	163	296	231	303
315	University of Bridgeport	CT	Private	$25,601	$60,311	$25,750	56%	110	321	339	232
316	Geneva College	PA	Private	$16,584	$53,795	$25,198	69%	261	196	201	359
317	Moore College of Art and Design	PA	Private	$36,421	$42,582	$26,000	62%	38	384	295	245
318	Keystone College	PA	Private	$19,498	$46,043	$26,000	45%	122	262	255	353
319	University of Maine–Augusta	ME	Public	$10,010	$51,475	$22,734	30%	331	80	350	304
320	Penn State–Beaver	PA	Public	$11,942	$76,659	$25,000	24%	142	133	311	388
321	Providence College	RI	Private	$24,311	$83,143	$27,000	85%	356	327	102	275
322	Rivier University	NH	Private	$23,015	$79,087	$26,956	61%	324	314	228	229
323	Moravian College	PA	Private	$26,507	$67,097	$26,793	69%	326	350	279	161
324	Wilson College	PA	Private	$16,515	$54,180	$26,328	55%	384	230	358	105
325	Penn State–World Campus	PA	Public	$18,031	$76,659	$25,000	39%	82	218	334	368
326	Springfield College	MA	Private	$22,110	$60,428	$26,250	75%	369	291	371	77
327	Penn State–Harrisburg	PA	Public	$18,651	$76,659	$25,000	41%	136	229	302	347
328	Regis College	MA	Private	$24,253	$84,660	$25,500	70%	355	303	312	164
329	MCPHS University	MA	Private	$34,889	$93,192	$25,000	78%	186	378	340	136
330	Champlain College	VT	Private	$28,161	$71,587	$26,814	60%	214	360	323	178
331	Saint Joseph’s College of Maine	ME	Private	$23,999	$73,164	$27,000	51%	389	325	351	32
332	Immaculata University	PA	Private	$22,728	$72,836	$27,000	63%	346	312	215	234
333	Gordon College	MA	Private	$19,631	$57,638	$26,250	72%	349	268	219	262
334	Penn State–Mont Alto	PA	Public	$14,463	$76,659	$25,000	33%	309	166	367	242
335	Wheaton College	MA	Private	$24,560	$57,982	$26,000	77%	254	315	157	327
336	Quinnipiac University	CT	Private	$33,967	$84,363	$26,000	78%	366	380	161	165
337	Roger Williams University	RI	Private	$33,623	$68,129	$26,940	62%	374	383	305	44
338	Anna Maria College	MA	Private	$24,246	$74,347	$25,000	52%	350	293	105	350
339	Curry College	MA	Private	$25,069	$72,447	$25,000	58%	328	304	364	158
340	Cairn University	PA	Private	$24,186	$48,513	$26,926	56%	207	326	251	283
341	Sarah Lawrence College	NY	Private	$26,907	$50,184	$27,000	75%	362	354	78	316
342	Washington Adventist Univ.	MD	Private	$15,467	$74,717	$30,500	50%	387	295	115	256
343	Stevenson University	MD	Private	$21,518	$66,853	$26,000	63%	279	283	267	288
344	Merrimack College	MA	Private	$30,639	$65,506	$27,000	70%	380	375	343	46
345	Fairfield University	CT	Private	$33,128	$91,378	$26,000	83%	385	377	124	190
346	Penn State–Altoona	PA	Public	$18,780	$76,659	$25,000	16%	226	233	383	233
347	Fairleigh Dickinson U.–Metro.	NJ	Private	$12,097	$68,049	$25,000	56%	390	135	194	339
348	Penn State–Berks	PA	Public	$19,228	$76,659	$25,000	35%	121	241	369	356
349	Harrisburg U. of Science & Tech.	PA	Private	$11,869	$55,281	$27,000	32%	68	177	381	378
350	Five Towns College	NY	For-profit	$16,339	$41,628	$21,500	47%	283	119	353	380
351	Penn State–Lehigh Valley	PA	Public	$14,412	$76,659	$25,000	24%	77	165	389	358
352	Delaware Valley University	PA	Private	$22,966	$54,681	$25,000	57%	182	280	386	206
353	St. Thomas Aquinas College	NY	Private	$16,792	$60,309	$23,198	62%	391	157	233	297
354	Berkeley College–New York	NY	Private	$26,920	$52,781	$30,426	39%	172	381	346	223
355	Penn State–York	PA	Public	$13,716	$76,659	$25,000	19%	185	154	373	381
356	University of New England	ME	Private	$32,525	$71,281	$25,250	65%	370	370	359	113
357	Thomas College	ME	Private	$15,760	$54,264	$24,250	52%	375	169	294	345
358	Paul Smith’s College	NY	Private	$19,480	$48,703	$22,750	59%	274	187	345	383
359	Long Island University	NY	Private	$22,434	$74,905	$23,577	55%	263	248	392	208
360	University of Hartford	CT	Private	$26,485	$69,078	$27,000	61%	189	353	342	296
361	University of New Haven	CT	Private	$29,579	$65,164	$27,000	65%	190	369	284	314
362	Sacred Heart University	CT	Private	$39,821	$79,431	$25,000	71%	351	386	307	154
363	Iona University	NY	Private	$26,586	$69,776	$25,999	60%	320	335	306	281
364	American Musical & Dramatic Acad.	NY	Private	$34,690	$31,967	$15,250	70%	183	235	362	392
365	Colby-Sawyer College	NH	Private	$21,091	$57,874	$27,000	66%	338	294	363	255
366	Franklin Pierce University	NH	Private	$23,824	$66,687	$27,000	49%	376	323	328	228
367	Marymount Manhattan College	NY	Private	$32,091	$52,050	$25,750	56%	270	373	354	236
368	Thiel College	PA	Private	$19,852	$51,262	$27,000	45%	211	281	388	247
369	Johnson & Wales U.–Providence	RI	Private	$28,588	$54,530	$26,000	62%	317	356	380	177
370	Misericordia University	PA	Private	$28,612	$69,973	$26,973	65%	343	362	341	238
371	Hartwick College	NY	Private	$26,451	$60,324	$27,000	58%	247	352	338	309
372	Assumption College	MA	Private	$21,890	$67,745	$27,000	71%	373	305	287	290
373	Mitchell College	CT	Private	$26,510	$44,062	$25,150	57%	259	319	325	363
374	University of Valley Forge	PA	Private	$26,922	$45,455	$27,000	41%	100	355	374	340
375	Mount Aloysius College	PA	Private	$19,587	$62,211	$24,287	51%	393	225	344	222
376	Bryant University	RI	Private	$35,550	$90,592	$26,849	83%	383	385	111	291
377	Western New England Univ.	MA	Private	$25,599	$76,928	$25,500	66%	329	316	330	354
378	Albertus Magnus College	CT	Private	$31,168	$63,088	$30,964	58%	153	387	244	361
379	Fisher College	MA	Private	$24,995	$57,557	$25,000	38%	334	302	365	344
380	Strayer University–MD	MD	For-profit	$19,224	$68,449	$40,621	25%	119	391	239	386
381	Montserrat College of Art	MA	Private	$29,530	$35,321	$27,000	64%	266	368	315	379
382	Emmanuel College	MA	Private	$25,357	$63,280	$27,000	67%	333	341	370	331
383	Endicott College	MA	Private	$29,900	$69,414	$27,000	76%	382	372	281	292
384	Maryland Institute Coll. of Art	MD	Private	$33,366	$42,353	$26,500	76%	386	382	132	374
385	New School	NY	Private	$48,845	$56,719	$22,266	70%	269	390	298	289
386	LIM College	NY	For-profit	$36,145	$66,341	$24,000	57%	278	376	297	392
387	Nichols College	MA	Private	$24,900	$64,532	$27,000	59%	377	332	271	391
388	New England College	NH	Private	$26,898	$55,330	$26,000	28%	146	339	387	367
389	Maine College of Art & Design	ME	Private	$32,044	$40,550	$27,000	44%	219	379	382	332
390	Pratt Institute–Main	NY	Private	$42,559	$58,793	$26,000	74%	344	389	303	366
391	Dean College	MA	Private	$27,656	$41,151	$25,000	48%	361	329	393	376
392	Berklee College of Music	MA	Private	$42,371	$41,028	$25,000	62%	352	388	391	377
393	School of Visual Arts	NY	Private	$52,945	$42,822	$27,000	75%	295	393	379	382

How to read the table. Click any column header to sort. Search by school, state or type (Public, Private, For-profit). Net price is for families earning under $75,000, after aid. Earnings are four years after graduation; graduation rate is within eight years. For category ranks, 1 is best. A dash means no data.

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

* = public
° = for-profit

More on higher education

All higher-ed coverage →

2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars: Northeast

Access

Affordability

Outcomes

Service

The Rankings – Northeast

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

* = public
° = for-profit

More on higher education

Thriving After High School: A Foundation to Build On

Workforce Pell’s Missing Rudder

Once Globally Preeminent, U.S. Universities Are Sliding Into Decline

Higher Ed’s Affordability Problem Isn’t Just the Price

Independent since 1969.

More on higher education

Confusing Financial Aid Offers Can Leave Families Deeper in Debt. Student Groups Say a New Legislative Fix Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Commencement Speakers, Don’t Ignore the Democracy in Crisis

Employers Are Moving Beyond Educational Pedigree. It’s Time We All Do

Frappuccino Socialists

Access

Affordability

Outcomes

Service

The Rankings – Northeast

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

* = public ° = for-profit

More on higher education

Independent since 1969.

More like this

More on higher education

Get the newsletter

* = public
° = for-profit