2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Business Economics](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-managerial-economics/business-economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for business economics students.
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2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the business economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Business Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Bernard M Baruch College the best value for a degree in business economics in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the business economics program here. Early-career business economics graduates make about $57,909. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Suny College At Oneonta is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,775 to complete the business economics program here. Business Economics graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $41,859 early in their careers. Set against $20,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Allegheny College earned it the #3 place for business economics. Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Meadville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,550. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $26,962. Early-career business economics graduates make about $34,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Allegheny College admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Cortland earned it the #4 place for business economics. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,874 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $40,517. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College placed #6 among the best values for business economics. Located in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Seton Hall University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,170. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $21,522. Business Economics graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $66,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Loyola University Baltimore earned the #8 position for value in business economics this year. Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $57,150. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Loyola University Baltimore generally make around $54,021. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Lehigh University earned the #9 position for value in business economics this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Business Economics graduates carry a median of $23,240 in student loans. Early-career business economics graduates make about $81,796. That is a strong return on a $23,240 median debt. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Union College New York came in at #10 for value in business economics this year. Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Schenectady. In-state tuition and fees average $69,039. Students borrow a median of $25,869 to complete the business economics program here. Early-career business economics graduates make about $52,020. That is a strong return on a $25,869 median debt. Union College New York admits about 44% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.