2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in New York

[Near & Middle Eastern Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/near-and-middle-eastern-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong near & middle eastern studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for near & middle eastern studies students.
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Featured Near & Middle Eastern Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in New York
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
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best value for a degree in near & middle eastern studies in New York. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Cornell University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $17,625. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
New York University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $19,250. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of $51,233 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $26,130. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Fordham University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Students borrow a median of $26,884 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $40,811. Set against $26,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.