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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Master’s Degree Schools

4 Colleges in the United States
$17,551 Avg Student Debt
$88,935 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Master's Degree Badge [Near & Middle Eastern Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/near-and-middle-eastern-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 78 schools to find the best return on investment for near & middle eastern studies students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the United States

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

1
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for near & middle eastern studies in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $10,888. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for near & middle eastern studies. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $14,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $44,276. That is a strong return on a $14,922 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $17,746. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $23,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.

4
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $20,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.

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6

University Of Arizona earned the #6 position for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $24,500. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $31,480 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

7

The University Of Texas At Austin placed #7 among the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $22,215 in student loans. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $46,699. Set against $22,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.

8

University Of Chicago ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $38,008. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

9

Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #9 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

10
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University came in at #10 for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $39,165. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.

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11
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University landed the #11 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.

12
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University came in at #12 for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $51,233. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.

13
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University came in at #13 for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $16,483. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $64,851 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. The acceptance rate is 13%.

Other Near & Middle Eastern Studies Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Near & Middle Eastern Studies rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Near & Middle Eastern Studies
Associate's Degrees in Near & Middle Eastern Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in Near & Middle Eastern Studies
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View All Near & Middle Eastern Studies Rankings >

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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 · 78 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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