The Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs in New York for 2027
Key Points: Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York
- Syracuse University ranks #1 in New York on a 94.2 Program Score, with an 84% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 12
- In-state tuition range
- $6,930-$65,450
- Average graduation rate
- 71%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $88,870
The best finance programs in New York span a wide cost range: in-state tuition among the 12 ranked programs runs from $6,930 to $65,450, a nearly tenfold gap between the cheapest and priciest options. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College anchors the value end at $6,930 a year, a fraction of what private institutions in the state charge, while still landing in the top three overall. Across all 12 programs analyzed in New York, the average graduation rate is 71%, ranging from a low of 53% at CUNY Queens College to a high of 84% at Syracuse University.
This guide ranks finance programs in New York using real, per-school data: graduation rate, admission selectivity, tuition, and outcomes, pulled from IPEDS and paired with national BLS wage data for context. Whether the goal is a bachelor of finance that leads straight into a CFA track or an affordable public option that still delivers a strong Program Score, the numbers below show exactly what each program costs and what it delivers.
The Top Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York at a Glance
Syracuse leads at 94.2, and St. John's-New York closes the chart at 81.7. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 12 Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York, Ranked for 2027
The 12 best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York, ranked by outcomes.
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 84%
- Admit rate
- 46%
- In-state
- $63,710
- Out-of-state
- $63,710
Syracuse University's Whitman School tops this list with a 94.2 Program Score, an 84% graduation rate, and a 46% admit rate.
- 94.2 Program Score, rank 1 of 4
- 84% graduation rate
- 46% admit rate
- $63,710 flat tuition
Syracuse University's Finance B.S. runs through the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Two required courses, Financial Management and Investments, lead into a bank of electives that includes Fixed Income Securities, Financial Modeling, Distress Investing, Institutional Trading, and Value Investing. The Ballentine Investment Institute layers on Bloomberg certification through equity and fixed income training modules, and the Orange Value Fund puts students in a two year, application only program managing a multimillion dollar hedge fund.
Syracuse carries a Program Score of 94.2, the top mark among these four New York finance programs. It admits 46% of applicants and graduates 84% of them, the highest completion rate in this group. Tuition is flat at $63,710 whether a student lives in state or out, since Syracuse is private. With 22,589 students enrolled, it fits someone who wants a large research university with a finance program deep enough for buy side and sell side placement, not a boutique program.
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 83%
- Admit rate
- 56%
- In-state
- $47,150
- Out-of-state
- $47,150
Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School graduates 83% of finance majors at a 56% admit rate, backed by a 70,000 plus alumni network, for $16,560 less than Syracuse's tuition.
- 93.4 Program Score, rank 2 of 4
- 83% graduation rate
- 56% admit rate
- $47,150 flat tuition
Yeshiva University's B.S. in Finance sits in the Sy Syms School of Business as a 27 credit finance and business requirement. The major covers asset management, investment and commercial banking, financial management, the financial side of venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and management consulting, and the program page points graduates toward portfolio management firms, investment and commercial banks, insurance and brokerage firms, mutual funds, and real estate corporations. Sy Syms frames the experience around a small, close-knit community built on Jewish values, backed by a network of more than 70,000 alumni.
Yeshiva's Program Score is 93.4, second among these four programs. It admits 56% of applicants, the least selective school in this set, yet still graduates 83% of students, nearly matching Syracuse's completion rate at a smaller school of 6,965 total enrollment. Tuition is flat at $47,150 regardless of residency, $16,560 below Syracuse's sticker price. That combination fits a student chasing strong completion odds and a tight knit community without paying Syracuse's tuition.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · Public
- Grad rate
- 72%
- Admit rate
- 48%
- In-state
- $6,930
- Out-of-state
- $14,880
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's Zicklin School covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge for $6,930 a year in state tuition, about a ninth of Syracuse's sticker price.
- 91 Program Score, rank 3 of 4
- 72% graduation rate
- $6,930 in state tuition
- CFA Institute affiliated curriculum
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's Finance BBA is housed in the Zicklin School of Business's Department of Economics and Finance. The major requires Statistical Analysis for Economics and Finance, Corporate Finance, and Investment Analysis, each demanding a 2.0 GPA average before a student can advance to 4000 level electives, followed by five electives, at least three at the 4000 level, drawn from finance, economics, real estate finance, or insurance. The BBA/MS path is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, meaning the curriculum covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, and Zicklin allots CFA exam scholarships to qualifying students.
Baruch's Program Score is 91, third in this set. It admits 48% of applicants and graduates 72%, the lowest completion rate of the four, but tuition explains why it still ranks: $6,930 a year in state versus $14,880 out of state, both far below the $47,150 to $63,710 the three private schools charge. At an enrollment of 20,081, Baruch fits a cost conscious student aiming at the CFA track who will trade a lower graduation rate for a tuition bill roughly a ninth of Syracuse's.
St Lawrence University
Canton, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 79%
- Admit rate
- 54%
- In-state
- $65,450
- Out-of-state
- $65,450
St. Lawrence backs its finance major with 15 Bloomberg terminals and reports a 94% outcomes rate, graduates employed or in graduate school within 7 to 9 months.
- 89.7 Program Score, rank 4 of 4
- 79% graduation rate
- 94% outcomes rate
- $65,450 flat tuition
St. Lawrence University's finance major runs through the Economics Department inside a liberal arts curriculum, taught by faculty who have served as economists at the Federal Reserve and the President's Council of Economic Advisors. The program centers on the Bloomberg Finance Lab, 15 terminals giving students access to real time market data and research from more than 1,500 sources, and pairs coursework with the LINC Mentor program, winter break SLU Connect trips to New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, and study abroad options like the London Program, which combines banking coursework with a month long work study placement.
St. Lawrence's Program Score is 89.7, fourth among these four programs. It admits 54% of applicants and graduates 79% of them, and the school reports a 94% outcomes rate for graduates employed or in graduate school within 7 to 9 months, with 73% completing at least one internship. Tuition is flat at $65,450, the highest of the four schools and $1,740 above Syracuse's. At an enrollment of just 1,991, St. Lawrence fits a student who wants the most personal setting on this list and is willing to pay the top price for it.
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 68%
- In-state
- $56,545
- Out-of-state
- $56,545
Hofstra University's Zarb School packs 15 semester hours of finance electives into a 120-hour BBA, backed by an 85.6 Program Score, 5th among New York finance programs for 2027.
- 85.6 Program Score, rank 5 in NY
- 69% graduation rate
- $56,545 flat tuition
- 120-semester-hour BBA
Hofstra University's Zarb School of Business offers a BBA in Finance built around two core courses, FIN 132 Principles of Investments and FIN 160 Corporate Valuation and Financial Policy, plus 15 semester hours of finance electives chosen under advisement. Students round out the major with a 3-credit economics elective drawn from options like Monetary Economics, International Economics, and Applied Econometrics, inside a standard 120-semester-hour BBA sequence.
Hofstra graduates 69% of its students and admits 68% of applicants, numbers that back an 85.6 Program Score, good for 5th among New York finance programs in 2027. Tuition runs a flat $56,545 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, the highest sticker price in this group, at a private nonprofit enrolling 10,685 students on Long Island, best suited to students who want a large BBA program with room to customize finance electives.
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · Public
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 66%
- In-state
- $7,070
- Out-of-state
- $17,640
SUNY College at Geneseo finance majors manage a Student Managed Investment Fund worth more than $1,000,000, a top-10%-worldwide fund, for just $7,070 a year in-state.
- $7,070 in-state tuition
- $1M+ Student Managed Investment Fund
- 71% graduation rate
- CFA Institute Affiliated University
SUNY SUNY College at Geneseo's BS in Finance covers managerial and corporate finance, investments, valuation, and financial modeling, then lets students pick four electives from topics like derivatives, fixed income securities, financial statement analysis, applied portfolio management, and programming in R and Python. Students manage the Student Managed Investment Fund, worth more than $1,000,000, a size that places it in the top 10% of student-run funds worldwide, using three Bloomberg terminals in the department's endowed Trading Room.
Geneseo's CFA Institute Affiliated University status brings CFA Level 1 exam scholarships and discounts, and students compete in the WNY CFA Research Challenge, backed by an annual finance conference and a fall networking trip to New York City banks and hedge funds. The program posts a 71% graduation rate, a 66% admit rate, and an 85.4 Program Score that ranks 6th in New York for 2027. As a public SUNY school, in-state tuition is $7,070 against $17,640 out-of-state, a $10,570 gap that makes it the cheapest program on this list for New York residents, with 3,945 students enrolled.
Siena College
Loudonville, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 75%
- Admit rate
- 69%
- In-state
- $44,505
- Out-of-state
- $44,505
100% of Siena finance majors earn Bloomberg Certification while managing a $419,802 student-run fund, and the program posts a 75% graduation rate, best in this group.
- 75% graduation rate
- 100% Bloomberg Certification rate
- $419,802 student-managed fund
- $44,505 flat tuition
Siena College's finance major runs through the School of Business with concentrations in financial planning, corporate finance, and investment analysis. Students manage the Bjorklund Fund, started with $100,000 and now valued at $419,802.67, using twelve Bloomberg terminals in the Hickey Financial Technology Center. All finance majors, 100% of them, earn Bloomberg Certification before graduation, and the program preps students for the CFA Level 1 exam, where its pass rate over the past four years has topped the global average.
Siena posts a 75% graduation rate, the highest of any program in this group, alongside a 69% admit rate and an 84.8 Program Score that lands it 7th for 2027. Tuition is a flat $44,505 for all students, the lowest sticker price among the private schools here, at a small nonprofit enrolling 3,720 students. Alumni have placed at JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, PwC, and Goldman Sachs Ayco, making it a fit for students who want hands-on trading experience without Hofstra's or Adelphi's price tag.
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 66%
- In-state
- $46,784
- Out-of-state
- $46,784
Adelphi University's Willumstad School has held AACSB accreditation since 2007, a mark held by fewer than 6% of the world's 16,000 business schools, for a flat $46,784 tuition.
- AACSB accredited since 2007
- $350,000+ student investment fund
- 67% graduation rate
- $46,784 flat tuition
Adelphi University's BS in Finance sits inside the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, which has held AACSB accreditation since 2007, a distinction held by fewer than 6% of the world's 16,000 business schools. Students manage the Student Investment Fund, now valued at over $350,000 and started in 2008 with funding from retired Goldman Sachs managing partner James Riley, Jr., inside the James Riley, Jr. Trading Room. Every finance major completes Bloomberg Market Concepts certification and can sit for the Securities Industry Essentials exam with free review.
The program posts a 67% graduation rate and a 66% admit rate, feeding an 84.3 Program Score that ranks 8th in New York for 2027. Flat tuition of $46,784 applies to in-state and out-of-state students at this Garden City nonprofit of 7,603 students, and finance majors can add an MBA through the Bachelor+1 program in a single additional year, a fit for students who want an accredited pedigree and a built-in graduate path near New York City.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 67%
- In-state
- $58,260
- Out-of-state
- $58,260
Rochester Institute of Technology's finance BS requires at least one block of cooperative education and gives students access to 12 Bloomberg terminals.
- Program Score 82.7
- 70% graduation rate
- Required co-op experience
- 12 Bloomberg terminals
Rochester Institute of Technology's Bachelor of Science in finance covers corporate finance, investments, financial analysis and modeling across a 123-credit plan of study. Students complete at least one block of cooperative education, and the page says they work with big data and analytics in the Sklarsky Center for Business Analytics, which houses 12 Bloomberg terminals. Students can also join the student chapter of the Financial Management Association, which manages a real investment portfolio. Finance electives let students build toward areas such as cash-flow analysis, capital markets or forecasting.
Federal data show a 70% graduation rate and a 67% admit rate. Tuition is $58,260 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 82.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a required, paid work experience built into the degree and who are comfortable with the data and software side of modern finance. The school reports a 100% outcomes rate for graduates of the program and lists roles such as financial advisor, investment banking analyst and reconciliation analyst.
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 66%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state
- $51,919
- Out-of-state
- $51,919
St. John's finance B.S. lets students manage part of the university's endowment through its Student Managed Investment Fund.
- Program Score 81.7
- 66% graduation rate
- $51,919 in-state and out-of-state tuition
- Student Managed Investment Fund
St. John's University, New York offers a 120-credit Bachelor of Science in finance on its Queens campus through the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Students choose among electives such as commercial banking, capital and money markets, fintech, derivative markets and securities analysis, with a focus on corporate finance, investments, banking or fintech. The page says students gain hands-on experience in a Financial Information Lab with Bloomberg terminals and in the Student Managed Investment Fund course, which manages a portion of the university's endowment. Fast-track options lead to several master's degrees, including an MBA, and a trip to London lets students visit financial firms.
Federal data show a 66% graduation rate and an 83% admit rate. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $51,919. The program earns a Program Score of 81.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The school notes that faculty hold professional designations such as CFP and CFA, and that business classes are scheduled around Manhattan visits with industry speakers. It fits students who want practical portfolio experience and a straightforward path into a graduate program.
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- 64%
- In-state
- $6,930
- Out-of-state
- $14,880
A BBA in Finance with FinTech and Corporate Finance concentrations built around spreadsheet modeling and valuation.
- 53% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.6
- $6,930 in-state tuition
- FinTech and Corporate Finance concentrations
Queens College offers a BBA in Finance that teaches the basic concepts of financial decision-making through real-world applications such as spreadsheet modeling, forecasting, regression analysis and firm valuation. The major has two concentrations. FinTech combines institutional studies with advanced econometric techniques and covers topics from cryptocurrencies to blockchains. Corporate Finance addresses capital structure, the CAPM, machine learning, forecasting and stock market efficiency. Admission to the major requires a GPA of 2.5 in the first four listed courses, and courses taken for the major at Queens must be passed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and no individual grade below C-. No more than 21 credits can be transferred in from other colleges. Finance majors may also add a minor in Financial Modeling offered through the Computer Science department.
Queens graduates 53% of its students and admits 64% of applicants. Tuition is $6,930 in-state and $14,880 out-of-state. The program holds a Program Score of 81.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a quantitative finance degree with a technology-oriented concentration and who can meet the GPA requirements for entry into the major.
Pace University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 76%
- In-state
- $51,602
- Out-of-state
- $51,602
A 128-credit finance BBA with Bloomberg terminals and a University-sponsored Student Managed Investment Portfolio.
- 60% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.1
- $51,602 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Student-managed investment portfolio
Pace University's Lubin School of Business offers a BBA in Finance, a 128-credit degree with fall and spring starts at the New York City and Westchester locations. The school describes training in financial management, corporate finance, investment principles and international finance. Students work with Bloomberg terminals, manage a real University-sponsored investment portfolio through the Student Managed Investment Portfolio, and can compete at the Global Asset Management Education Forum. Sample courses include Corporate Finance, Data Analysis in Finance and Principles of Investment. The Executive in Residence and Dean's Roundtable programs bring industry leaders to campus, and the school lists JPMorgan Chase, Moody's Investors Service, PwC and the New York Stock Exchange among graduate employers.
Pace is a private nonprofit university in New York City. About 60% of students graduate, and the school admits 76% of applicants. Tuition is $51,602 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 81.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want hands-on investing experience in a Wall Street setting.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York
The median school on this list graduates 71% of its students. The highest rates belong to Syracuse University (84%) and Yeshiva University (83%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Syracuse University84% graduation rate
- #2 Yeshiva University83% graduation rate
- #4 St Lawrence University79% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York?
On this list, 2 schools admit fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Syracuse University at 46%.
- #1 Syracuse University46% admitted
- #3 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College48% admitted
- #4 St Lawrence University54% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York
This list holds 3 public and 9 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 85.4 public and 84.8 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Where the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York Are
The 12 ranked schools are spread across 9 cities. New York (3) and Queens (2) are the only ones with more than one ranked school.
Main campus city as reported to IPEDS.
Campus Size Across the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,991 at St Lawrence University to 22,589 at Syracuse University. Of the 12, 2 enroll 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New York Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Syracuse UniversitySyracuse | $120,274 | $43,336 |
| #3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeBaruch College | $84,956 | $657 |
| #5 | Hofstra UniversityHofstra | $89,518 | $30,647 |
| #7 | Siena CollegeSiena College | $88,623 | $33,934 |
| #8 | Adelphi UniversityAdelphi | $97,175 | $26,646 |
| #9 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyRIT | $72,313 | $37,232 |
| #10 | St. John's University-New YorkSt. John's-New York | $98,970 | $24,508 |
| #11 | CUNY Queens CollegeCUNY Queens College | $94,526 | $1,272 |
| #12 | Pace UniversityPace | $92,271 | $30,721 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $72,313 at RIT to $120,274 at Syracuse.
Syracuse leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Baruch College, $657 a year, and most at Syracuse, $43,336.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What a Bachelor of Finance Costs in New York
Cost is the single biggest differentiator among the best finance programs in New York. In-state tuition across the 12 ranked programs ranges from $6,930 a year at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College and CUNY Queens College to $65,450 a year at St Lawrence University, a $58,520 annual gap. Four years at Baruch runs about $27,720 in sticker tuition; four years at St Lawrence runs about $261,800, a difference of roughly $234,080 before any aid is applied.
Private nonprofit finance programs dominate the upper half of the tuition range: Syracuse University ($63,710), St Lawrence University ($65,450), Rochester Institute of Technology ($58,260), and Hofstra University ($56,545) all charge well above $50,000 a year. The two public options, both CUNY campuses, undercut every private school in this group by tens of thousands of dollars a year while still posting competitive Program Scores (91 for Baruch, 81.6 for Queens).
The national BLS median wage for financial analysts is $88,870 a year, the same benchmark for graduates of every school. Measured against that national figure, Baruch's four-year sticker cost equals roughly four months of the national median salary, while St Lawrence's four-year cost equals nearly three years of it. That gap is the clearest argument for weighing cost alongside prestige when comparing finance programs in New York.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
CFA, Series 7 and 63: Licensure Paths for New York Finance Graduates
A finance degree is the foundation, not the finish line, for most careers in New York's financial sector. The CFA charter, awarded by the CFA Institute, requires passing three exam levels, four years of qualified work experience, and a bachelor's degree, and is the credential most investment analysis and portfolio management roles look for. New York's concentration of asset managers, banks, and hedge funds makes it one of the most CFA-dense job markets in the country, so a bachelor of finance from any of the 12 ranked New York programs sets up eligibility for the exam sequence immediately after graduation.
Roles that involve selling securities or giving investment advice in New York also require FINRA licensing, most commonly the Series 7 (general securities representative) and Series 63 (state law) exams, both sponsored by an employing broker-dealer rather than earned independently while in school. A finance degree does not substitute for these licenses, but coursework in securities markets, portfolio theory, and financial regulation, standard in accredited finance programs, prepares graduates for the exam content. Students planning to work in New York specifically should confirm a program's course list covers securities regulation, since state-specific licensing knowledge is tested on top of the federal Series 7 material.
Why AACSB and ACBSP Accreditation Matters for a Finance Bachelor's Degree
Accreditation is the baseline filter before comparing any other number. AACSB accreditation, held by a minority of business schools nationally, signals that a program's faculty research output, curriculum rigor, and student outcomes meet a peer-reviewed standard; ACBSP accreditation applies a similar but less research-intensive standard, more common among smaller or teaching-focused institutions. Employers recruiting for finance roles in New York, and CFA-track programs in particular, use accreditation as a first-pass screen on transcripts.
An accredited finance degree also protects transferability: credits from an AACSB or ACBSP business program move more reliably into a graduate program than credits from an unaccredited business school. Every program in this ranking sits inside a four-year institution reporting standard IPEDS data, but accreditation status should still be confirmed directly on each school's program page before enrolling, since AACSB accreditation applies at the business-school level, not the university level, and can lapse or change between review cycles.
The Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs in New York, Ranked
Syracuse University leads the 12 ranked finance programs in New York with a 94.2 Program Score and an 84% graduation rate, the highest completion rate in the group, though it comes with $63,710 in-state tuition. Yeshiva University ranks second at 93.4, with an 83% graduation rate and comparatively lower tuition at $47,150, a meaningfully better cost-to-outcome ratio than Syracuse for students who qualify.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks third overall at a 91 Program Score and stands out as the clear value leader: $6,930 in-state tuition, a 72% graduation rate, and a score that beats nine private institutions charging five to ten times as much. St Lawrence University ranks fourth (89.7 score, 79% graduation rate) despite carrying the highest tuition in the entire group at $65,450, a reminder that sticker price and rank do not move together.
The rest of the top 12 spans a mix of public and private options: SUNY College at Geneseo (85.4 score, 71% graduation rate, $7,070 tuition) is the second public school to crack the top 10, while Hofstra University, Siena College, Adelphi University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John's University-New York, CUNY Queens College, and Pace University fill out ranks 5 through 12 with scores between 81.1 and 85.6. CUNY Queens College posts the lowest graduation rate in the ranked group at 53%, worth weighing against its $6,930 tuition and 81.6 score.
Online and Accelerated Finance Bachelor's Degree Options in New York
Cost-conscious students comparing finance programs in New York increasingly look at hybrid and accelerated formats to compress the multi-year tuition gap documented above. An accelerated bachelor of finance that finishes in three and a half years instead of four saves a proportional share of tuition at any of the 12 ranked schools, public or private, since New York tuition is charged per year rather than per credit-hour cap at most of these institutions.
Accreditation standards apply equally to online, hybrid, and on-campus sections of a finance degree, so an online track at an accredited New York program carries the same institutional credential as the on-campus version. Prospective students should confirm directly with each school's admissions office which format options exist for a given entry term, since online and accelerated availability changes by cohort and is not captured in the IPEDS graduation-rate and tuition figures used to build the Program Score.
Finance Careers and Salary Outlook After Graduation
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued demand for financial analysts nationally, with a median annual wage of $88,870, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. That figure is a national field median, not a New York-specific or school-specific number, since neither the BLS nor IPEDS publishes starting salaries by individual finance program.
New York's financial sector, concentrated in New York City's banking, asset management, and insurance firms, is one of the largest employers of financial analysts in the country, which is part of why in-state selectivity and cost comparisons matter more here than in smaller state finance markets. Graduates of any of the 12 ranked finance programs enter that same national wage distribution; the differentiator between schools is not a different salary ceiling but the cost, selectivity, and completion odds documented in the sections above, plus how directly a program's coursework maps to the CFA and FINRA licensing paths covered earlier.