10 Most Affordable Online Colleges in New York 2025

Even though New York has some of the highest tuition, students can earn a degree affordably at an online college or university by using financial aid.

Completing your higher education can make it much easier to reach your career goals, but some students feel they don't have the time or money to finish their degrees. That's where affordable online colleges can be extremely helpful.

The most affordable online colleges in New York are public schools, but there are some low-cost private options as well. Many of the best accredited online colleges in New York offer tuition assistance, scholarships, and more. Keep reading to discover the most affordable online degree programs in New York State.

List of the Cheapest & Most Affordable Online Colleges in New York

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), New York has some of the highest tuition costs for private colleges. However, the cost at public schools is relatively low, especially for those who qualify for financial aid options like the Excelsior Scholarship. As a result, there are a few cheap colleges in New York. We've highlighted New York's most affordable online schools below.

1. Empire State University

Empire State University is one of the campuses of the public State University of New York (SUNY) system located in Saratoga Springs, NY. It offers a variety of associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees online in fields like business administration, criminal justice, healthcare, and public administration.

The in-state tuition rate for undergraduate students is $295 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay $353 per credit. New York residents may qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, which covers full tuition costs for undergraduate students at public New York universities.

2. State University of New York at Canton

At SUNY Canton, students earn online associate and bachelor's degrees. Areas of study include business administration, cybersecurity, education, and healthcare management.

As a SUNY school, in-state tuition is $295 per credit and out-of-state tuition is $353 per credit. Students here may also qualify to have their tuition covered under the Excelsior Scholarship.

3. State University of New York at Delhi

SUNY Delhi offers primarily bachelor's degrees online, although it does offer a few online associate and master's degrees as well. Online learning fields include business, criminal justice, management, and nursing.

Tuition is the same as at other SUNY colleges and universities: $295 per credit for in-state students and $353 per credit for out-of-state students. Again, students may qualify for a range of financial aid options including the Excelsior Scholarship.

4. State University of New York at Oswego

Online undergraduate and graduate programs are available through SUNY Oswego. Students can complete their online education in areas of study like business administration, communication, computer science, and healthcare management.

As with the other state colleges on this list, in-state students pay $295 per credit and out-of-state students pay $353 per credit when studying online. Multiple financial aid options are available to help students cover the cost of their coursework.

5. CUNY School of Professional Studies

The CUNY School of Professional Studies is part of the public City University of New York (CUNY) system and is based in Manhattan. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees online in fields like business management, disability studies, nursing, and psychology.

In-state tuition is slightly higher at CUNY schools than at SUNY schools, at $305 per credit. However, out-of-state tuition is a little lower, at $350 per credit hour.

6. Lehman College

Students at Lehman College will find several undergraduate and graduate programs available online. Areas of study include business, healthcare, leadership, and social sciences.

Lehman College, a CUNY school, is based in the Bronx in NYC. It charges the same tuition rate as other CUNY colleges and students may be eligible for financial aid options like the Excelsior Scholarship.

7. University of Mount Saint Vincent

The University of Mount Saint Vincent offers bachelor's and master's programs online. The Catholic school is based in New York City.

Fields available to online learners include business, communication, psychology, and sociology. Tuition for the bachelor's degree programs is $324 per credit hour.

8. Davis College

Online associate and bachelor's programs are available through Davis College. Areas of study include leadership, ministry, and theology.

Davis College, a private Baptist school, is located in Pottersville, NY. The tuition rate for online college degrees is $380 per credit hour.

9. Touro University

Touro University is a private Jewish University system based in New York City. It offers online programs from the associate through doctoral levels in fields like business management, healthcare, psychology, and social work.

Tuition for undergraduate programs is a flat rate of $400 per credit hour. The university offers several financial aid options to help students pay for their online courses.

10. Utica University

Through Utica University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate programs online. Areas of study include business, criminal justice, cybersecurity, and healthcare management.

Utica University, a private institution, is based in Utica, NY. It charges a tuition rate of $420 per credit hour for online bachelor's degrees.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the most affordable online universities and colleges listed above, we focused on:

Location: All are New York colleges.
Accreditation: All schools are regionally accredited, most by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. This ensures that students are getting a quality education.
Type: We focused specifically on four-year public and private nonprofit schools.

Once we narrowed down this list, we chose the most affordable schools, with one caveat. There are about a dozen SUNY colleges and half a dozen CUNY colleges that offer online degrees, and these schools are the lest expensive. However, to offer more variety on this list, we highlighted the CUNY and SUNY schools with the most online offerings.

How Much Do Online Colleges in New York Cost?

The most inexpensive online colleges in New York are SUNY colleges, which have a tuition rate of $295 per credit hour for undergraduate progams. However, tuition rates can reach over $900 per credit hour at private schools, and the cost for graduate programs may be even higher.

How Can I Make an Online Degree Affordable in New York?

Even after finding the most affordable online degrees in New York, it's not always easy to pay tuition costs out of pocket.

Fortunately, most schools accept financial aid for their online programs. This means you might use the FAFSA application to qualify for grants and the Work-Study Program. Student loans could also help but have to be repaid.

Another option to consider is to apply for scholarships available through your school, private businesses, and nonprofits. A great place to find scholarships is CareerOneStop.org.

Active military and veterans may be able to reduce their tuition through grants, benefit from the GI Bill, or maybe have their tuition covered by the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Working students might be able to get some or all of their tuition reimbursed by their employer via their tuition reimbursement program.

Learn more below on how to make an online degree cheaper:

FAQs About Cheap Online Universities and Colleges in New York

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about affordable online colleges in New York.

Can You Do College Online in New York?

You absolutely can do college online in New York. In fact, some New York colleges, like Empire State University and Excelsior University, are specifically geared toward working adults who may struggle to make it to on-campus classes.

What Is the Cheapest Online College in New York?

The cheapest online bachelor's degrees in New York come from SUNY colleges. There are dozens of SUNY schools throughout New York, and though not all offer online degrees, many do.

Note that if you're an out-of-state student, CUNY colleges have a slightly lower tuition rate for undergraduate nonresidents studying through distance learning.

What Is the Easiest Online College To Get Into in New York?

Several schools in New York have open admissions policies. This means that as long as you meet the minimum criteria, which is usually just a high school diploma or equivalent, you'll be accepted into their undergraduate programs.

Of the schools listed above, both Empire State University and Touro University have open admissions for their online degrees.

Can You Go to College Online for Free in New York?

It is possible to go to college for free in New York. Qualifying undergraduate students at public New York Schools can have their full tuition costs covered under the Excelsior Scholarship.

Other financial aid opportunities may be available as well to help lower or completely eliminate your costs. Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the Department of Education to find out what you qualify for.

Find Accredited Online Degree Programs

Find the perfect affordable online degree for you by exploring the best online colleges featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about enrollment and financial aid.