2026 Best Value English Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 247 schools to find the best return on investment for english students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value English Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in english, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value English Schools
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College tops our 2026 list of the best value english schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $61,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $12,431. English graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $27,958 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Cuny Queens College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. English graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. English graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $28,290 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Laguardia Community College one of the best values for english. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for english graduates is $8,858. Early-career english graduates make about $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #5 spot this year. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $9,848 in student loans. English graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $31,842 early in their careers. Set against $9,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College earned the #6 position for value in english this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $13,782 in student loans. English graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $27,082 early in their careers. Set against $13,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College earned the #7 position for value in english this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Students borrow a median of $11,391 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $34,337 early in their careers. Set against $11,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College placed #8 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $11,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $29,557. Set against $11,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Typical student debt for english graduates is $17,371. Early-career english graduates make about $33,467. Set against $17,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Princeton University came in at #10 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $35,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #11 for value in english this year. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $16,912 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $27,142. Set against $16,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #12 among the best values for english. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $5,700. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $24,207. That is a strong return on a $5,700 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #13 for value in english this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #14 spot for english value this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. English graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $36,561. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. English graduates carry a median of $12,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $43,434. Set against $12,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
New Jersey City University earned the #16 position for value in english this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,460. Typical student debt for english graduates is $26,980. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $37,244. That is a strong return on a $26,980 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Montclair State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. English graduates carry a median of $25,092 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $31,317. Set against $25,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kean University landed the #18 spot for english value this year. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Typical student debt for english graduates is $30,679. Early-career english graduates make about $36,257. That is a strong return on a $30,679 median debt. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
Cuny York College placed #19 among the best values for english. Located in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $12,573. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny York College generally make around $26,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #20 for value in english this year. Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $8,224. English graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College landed the #21 spot for english value this year. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. English graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $37,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Towson University came in at #22 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Towson University earn a median of $39,250 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Delaware landed the #23 spot for english value this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. English graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. English graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $32,487 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Hudson County Community College placed #24 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, while out-of-state students pay about $9,248. Typical student debt for english graduates is $10,671. English graduates of Hudson County Community College earn a median of $35,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,671 median debt.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County landed the #25 spot for english value this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $27,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value English Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in english:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 247 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 93 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.
