Hosting one of the largest higher education systems in the nation makes it difficult to sum up the depth of New York's offerings and initiatives. The state offers over 300 postsecondary schools, awards more grant money than every state except California and as of 2015, reports an enrollment of nearly 90,000 fully online students in its public and private schools. The state also boasts a remarkable number of support services dedicated to its distance students, from consortiums of schools to pacts with neighboring states, all of which we will explore below.
So, before we dive into the best online colleges in New York, let's begin with the state of higher education and online education in New York today.
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Overview of Online Colleges in New York
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in New York
According to National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data on the 2015-16 school year, there are 304 degree-granting colleges and universities in New York. This total includes 43 public educational institutions, 170 nonprofit institutions, and 44 for-profit institutions. The NCES data also shows just over one million New York students enrolled at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in 2016. In the U.S., a total of nearly 20 million learners enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities during this same time period.In this current academic year, the average tuition and fees in New York remain low compared to other states. For an in-state student attending a four-year public school in New York, the average in-state tuition and fees total nearly $8,000, according to College Board data. Out-of-state tuition and fees for four-year public schools in New York average $19,500, according to the College Board. Additionally, tuition and fees at New York's flagship university, the State University of New York at Buffalo, cost an average of $9,800 for in-state residents and $27,300 for out-of-state residents during the 2017-18 school year.Students may receive financial aid in the form of need-based and non-need-based grants in New York. According to the NASSGAP annual survey, the amount of need-based and non-need-based grants issued during the 2015-16 school year in New York totaled over $1 billion. This included approximately $970 million in need-based grants and $38 million in non-need-based grants.
Higher Education in New York
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in New York
In New York, approximately 191,800, or 14.9%, of the enrolled student body takes at least one course at online colleges in NY, according to the Digital Learning Compass Online Learning Survey. Approximately 89,000 students in New York, or 6.9% of all students in the state, take all courses through online schools in New York. These distance learners include 67,000 undergraduates and 19,000 graduates.Among these degree candidates attending online schools in NY, a total of 41,800, or 47%, reside in state. Approximately 1.2 million, or 93.1% of students in state, take a mix of on-campus and distance courses, according to the Online Learning Survey.[dataviz-nces online="6.9" undergrad="77.9" in-state="47"]Two leading advocates of online education in New York are the New York Distance Learning Association (NYDLA) and the New York State Distance Learning Consortium (NYSDLC). NYDLA identifies itself as the "Premier remote work, distance/digital learning and collaboration association in the United States and beyond." While such associations direct efforts towards students in need of a directory of courses and cross-institutional exchanges, the NYDLA focuses on the professionals of online education, providing them with resources like blogs, conferences, and podcasts that track the latest efforts in distance education in New York.The NYSDLC, on the other hand, serves students directly, offering them the chance to pursue distance courses across a whole host of New York institutions, both at the high school and collegiate levels. A major selling point of the organization involves ensuring students receive the credit they deserve for any distance courses completed in New York, making them a vital resource to any distance student who earns their degree across several institutions. While the extent of their online collegiate offerings appear to vary semester by semester, the NYSDLC clearly advocates for higher quality online learning at all levels of New York education.New York is also one of six states allied under the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Through this partnership, students enrolled at public colleges in member states can take advantage of non-resident tuition breaks, shared programming, and simplified transfer processes. Benefits of the NEBHE are available to both online and on-campus students. For students at online colleges in NY, this often means they can pursue individual courses at universities that fall under the agreement, earning credits toward their degree at another institution — sometimes at comparable or even further reduced rates.
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) offers a tuition break program known as the New England Regional Student Program (RSP). The program enables thousands of New England residents to enroll in out-of-state public colleges and universities at a discount. For eligibility, a permanent New England resident must enroll in an approved major not offered by the public colleges or universities in the learner's own state. If you attend an out-of-state college closer to home than an in-state college offering the same program, you may also qualify for the tuition break program.To apply to an RSP-approved program, a student needs to check RSP availability at the college or university where they attend. The RSP tuition break saves New England residents more than $270,000 annually in tuition. According to the NEBHE, students have saved billions since the RSP's establishment in 1957. In fact, the RSP reported that full-time RSP students saved an average of $8,000 during the 2016-17 academic year.The RSP's 82 public colleges and universities offer more than 800 undergraduate and graduate degrees available in the following states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. These states are part of the RSP
Best Online Colleges in New York
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in New York. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in NY, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in New York or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in New York
Below you'll find the very best online colleges in New York, sorted by affordability.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online schools in New York is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in NY with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in New York
Job Outlook for College Graduates in New York
The job outlook for college graduates in New York remains positive. According to the BLS, the unemployment rate for New York State is very low, at only 4.5%. Additionally, the mean annual wage for all occupations in New York is $60,100. The New York mean annual wage is more than $10,000 higher than the national mean annual wage for all occupations.In May 2018, private sector jobs in New York City grew by 2.1%, according to the New York State Department of Labor. According to the Department of Labor, the state continues to see positive job growth with seven job sectors adding positions, and only manufacturing and information sectors losing jobs.The most significant industries in New York include accommodation; food services and drinking places; and professional, scientific, and technical services. With information provided by the New York Department of Labor, the table below shows the fastest growing occupations in the state.
Fastest Growing Jobs in New York
Employment in 2008Employment in 2018Percent ChangeAnnual Mean WagePersonal and Home Care Aides3,3405,03050.6%$26,160Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers41058041.5%$45,450Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts1,7602,48040.9%$103,550Home Health Aides5,7307,60032.6%$24,720Physician Assistants65085030.8%$111,980Source: NY Department of Labor/BLS