Forbes Ranks Baruch Among Nation’s Best 25 Colleges for Highest Payoff

September 11, 2026

Group of students smiling at a Baruch College Commencement Ceremony with streams of confetti in the air.

For three straight years, Forbes has recognized Baruch for being among the best colleges in the nation for return on investment.

Baruch College ranks #6 on Forbes‘ “25 Colleges with the Highest Payoff” list, marking the third consecutive year the College has earned a place among the nation’s top institutions for return on investment.

Drawn from Forbes‘ ranking of the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities, the “Highest Payoff” list recognizes institutions that stand out for affordability and graduates’ earnings potential. The methodology uses the price-to-earnings premium developed by the nonprofit think tank Third Way, which estimates how long it takes graduates to recoup the net cost of their degree after accounting for grants and scholarships.

The College placed ahead of several institutions including Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt, University of Florida, and Johns Hopkins.

In highlighting Baruch’s strong performance, Forbes pointed to the College’s location in the heart of New York City, noting that students are “within reach of internships and professional opportunities in finance, media, government and other industries.”

Another Strong Showing in Forbes Rankings

In addition to the “Highest Payoff” list, Forbes ranked Baruch #44 among public institutions on its 2027 “America’s Top Colleges” list, and #5 in New York State.

This annual ranking evaluated approximately 1,600 public and private colleges and universities using 14 measures of student and institutional success, including student debt, graduation rates, career outcomes, and alumni salaries.

Together, the two Forbes recognitions underscore Baruch’s ability to combine academic quality, affordability, value, and strong career outcomes for students.

In this year alone, Baruch has earned several high rankings:

#1 in New York for best career placement among public colleges – The Princeton Review
#1 public college in the nation for value – Niche
#2 among New York public colleges – TIME
One of only 17 public colleges and universities nationwide to earn a five-star rating – Money

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