The Princeton Review Ranks Baruch #1 Public College for Value in Northeast

The Princeton Review Ranks Baruch #1 Public College for Value in Northeast

September 29, 2026

Baruch College is the top public college in the Northeast for return on investment, according to The Princeton Review's "Best Value Colleges for 2027."

The College also ranked #1 among public institutions in the region for career placement and alumni network, giving Baruch the top spot in three categories.

Overall, Baruch was among 209 public and private institutions nationwide selected by The Princeton Review and recognized for "delivering outstanding academics, affordable cost, and great career foundations."

Baruch Gains on National List

Among public colleges on the national list, Baruch moved up in all three of the rankings.

The College placed #14 for value, up five spots from last year. The ranking considers several factors including academics, affordability, graduation rates, and salary outcomes.

For career placement, Baruch jumped seven positions from last year's, landing at #13. The category is based on based on students' assessments of their schools' career services and alumni salary data.

The upward trend extended to alumni network ranking, where Baruch ranked #15, up one spot from a year ago.

Student Voices

As part of its methodology, The Princeton Review also factored in survey findings of students attending the colleges.

This year, Baruch students said they take full advantage of being in "the greatest city in the world," citing access to "internships, big companies, and… Wall Street." Through the Starr Career Development Center, students receive support in identifying career goals and gaining experience through experiential learning opportunities.

Recent graduates have secured positions with leading employers such as Amazon, Bloomberg, Con Edison, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Hyatt, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, L'Oreal, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NBCUniversal, PwC, and S&P Global, among others.

Students also pointed to the strength of Baruch's alumni network, which boasts more than 185,000 graduates worldwide. The Office of Alumni Relations and Volunteer Engagement hosts year-round events, such as reunions, networking gatherings, workshops, and corporate meetups.

Top Rankings to Date

Baruch College continues to stand out nationally for academic excellence, exceptional value, and career outcomes. Top rankings in 2026 are:

• U.S. News & World Report's "2027 Best Colleges-North"
• Forbes' "25 Colleges with the Highest Payoff"
• Washington Monthly's "Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars"
• TIME's inaugural "America's Best Colleges 2026-27"
• Niche's "Best Value Colleges in America"

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