2026 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for area studies students.
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Featured Area Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Anthropology
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2026 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Area Studies Schools
For return on investment in area studies, no school beat University Of Maryland University College this year. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Area Studies graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Area Studies graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $48,650 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,276 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in area studies will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the area studies program here. Area Studies graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $24,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in area studies will find it at Towson University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area studies graduates is $21,241. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Area Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
