by our College Data Analytics Team
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for finance students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Washburn University, our #1 best value for finance in Kansas. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $21,136. Early-career finance graduates make about $49,500. Set against $21,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for finance. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $20,354 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $57,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at Fort Hays State University, which ranked #3. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,520. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $47,313. Set against $19,520 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Wichita State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #4 spot this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Finance graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,302 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #5 makes Kansas State University one of the best values for finance. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $54,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Pittsburg State University came in at #6 for value in finance this year. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $21,875. Finance graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,450 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Benedictine College placed #7 among the best values for finance. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,350. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $26,959. Finance graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $58,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.