2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
[Near & Middle Eastern Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/near-and-middle-eastern-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for near & middle eastern studies students.
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2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in near & middle eastern studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Washington Seattle Campus, our #1 best value for near & middle eastern studies in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $14,922. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $43,972. Set against $14,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in near & middle eastern studies will find it at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $22,697 in student loans. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $45,488. Set against $22,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $17,746 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $23,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,746 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,972 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $50,728. Set against $14,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Davis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,167 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
