I have a friend who has taught at both NCC and SUNY-Old Westbury. For what it’s worth, he says that the students and faculty at NCC are stronger academically. The nursing program at NCC is well ranked and competitive to get into.
If you really want your son to start at a 4 year school, have you looked at SUNY Farmingdale? I hear that it’s a better school than Old Westbury. If it were my kids I would not send then to Old Westbury if I had alternatives.
Buffalo State is a good school but if you’re looking at budget and value I don’t think it’s worth paying the room + board compared to NCC. Students at NCC transfer to all kinds of schools, to Ivy League, top 50 privates and the top SUNYs.
You can do some college comparisons at collegedata.com