2026 Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools in New York
[American U.S. Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/american-us-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong american u.s. studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for american u.s. studies students.
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Featured American U.S. Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in History - American History
Learn to evaluate and discuss the topics and events that made an impact on America's history with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
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MA in History - American History
Understand the impact of major political, cultural, social and economic shifts in American society with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Anthropology
Explore societal similarities and differences as seen through cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic lenses when you earn one of your degrees in anthropology from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in american u.s. studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best value for a degree in american u.s. studies in New York. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,486 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $41,903. That is a strong return on a $22,486 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cornell University earned it the #2 place for american u.s. studies. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. American U.s. Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
New York University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in american u.s. studies, landing the #3 spot this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $51,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #4 makes Vassar College one of the best values for american u.s. studies. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,030. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $18,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $22,741. Set against $18,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
A rank of #5 makes Barnard College one of the best values for american u.s. studies. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $19,000. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $34,142. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University placed #6 among the best values for american u.s. studies. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $26,884. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $40,811. That is a strong return on a $26,884 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Notes and References
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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
