Ranking
Most Selective Colleges in New York by Acceptance Rate 2026
The hardest New York colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.
- Schools ranked
- 25
- Cheapest net price
- $3,033
- Top earnings 10y
- $131,426
- Public / Private
- 4 / 20
Columbia University in the City of New York
A- Acceptance
- 4%
- Net price
- $21,590
- Earnings 10y
- $102,491
- Acceptance
- 4%
Cornell University
B- Acceptance
- 8.8%
- Net price
- $28,690
- Earnings 10y
- $104,043
- Acceptance
- 8.8%
Barnard College
C- Acceptance
- 8.8%
- Net price
- $28,800
- Earnings 10y
- $80,516
- Acceptance
- 8.8%
The Juilliard School
D- Acceptance
- 9.2%
- Net price
- $43,571
- Earnings 10y
- $37,827
- Acceptance
- 9.2%
New York University
C- Acceptance
- 9.2%
- Net price
- $37,050
- Earnings 10y
- $82,509
- Acceptance
- 9.2%
Hamilton College
C- Acceptance
- 13.6%
- Net price
- $28,985
- Earnings 10y
- $78,411
- Acceptance
- 13.6%
Colgate University
B- Acceptance
- 13.9%
- Net price
- $28,786
- Earnings 10y
- $85,139
- Acceptance
- 13.9%
Helene Fuld College of Nursing
C- Acceptance
- 17%
- Net price
- $47,181
- Earnings 10y
- $111,027
- Acceptance
- 17%
Vassar College
D- Acceptance
- 18.6%
- Net price
- $39,343
- Earnings 10y
- $71,366
- Acceptance
- 18.6%
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
A- Acceptance
- 20.7%
- Net price
- $13,269
- Earnings 10y
- $83,847
- Acceptance
- 20.7%
Skidmore College
D- Acceptance
- 21.1%
- Net price
- $32,297
- Earnings 10y
- $69,363
- Acceptance
- 21.1%
Plaza College
D- Acceptance
- 30%
- Net price
- $19,860
- Earnings 10y
- $31,519
- Acceptance
- 30%
United States Merchant Marine Academy
A+- Acceptance
- 34.2%
- Net price
- $6,174
- Earnings 10y
- $90,610
- Acceptance
- 34.2%
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland
A+- Acceptance
- 36.7%
- Net price
- $10,753
- Earnings 10y
- $89,548
- Acceptance
- 36.7%
Binghamton University
B- Acceptance
- 38.6%
- Net price
- $21,620
- Earnings 10y
- $80,596
- Acceptance
- 38.6%
University of Rochester
C- Acceptance
- 40.1%
- Net price
- $29,278
- Earnings 10y
- $79,042
- Acceptance
- 40.1%
Manhattan School of Music
D- Acceptance
- 40.8%
- Net price
- $51,754
- Earnings 10y
- $26,878
- Acceptance
- 40.8%
Union College
C- Acceptance
- 43.9%
- Net price
- $34,561
- Earnings 10y
- $88,604
- Acceptance
- 43.9%
Maria College of Albany
B- Acceptance
- 44.5%
- Net price
- $13,082
- Earnings 10y
- $55,458
- Acceptance
- 44.5%
Syracuse University
D- Acceptance
- 45.9%
- Net price
- $38,793
- Earnings 10y
- $79,164
- Acceptance
- 45.9%
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
A+- Acceptance
- 47.5%
- Net price
- $3,033
- Earnings 10y
- $75,971
- Acceptance
- 47.5%
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
D- Acceptance
- 48.6%
- Net price
- $43,195
- Earnings 10y
- $92,751
- Acceptance
- 48.6%
Stony Brook University
B- Acceptance
- 49%
- Net price
- $18,784
- Earnings 10y
- $74,502
- Acceptance
- 49%
Bard College
D- Acceptance
- 52.1%
- Net price
- $34,649
- Earnings 10y
- $46,543
- Acceptance
- 52.1%
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
A- Acceptance
- 52.7%
- Net price
- $29,882
- Earnings 10y
- $131,426
- Acceptance
- 52.7%
How we picked this list
This list starts with New York colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 10.98 (4 public, 20 private).
Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 4%.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many New York colleges are in this list?
126 New York colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.