by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) 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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in value in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $19,448 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $33,366. That is a strong return on a $19,448 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $32,856. That is a strong return on a $23,402 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #3 place for value. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,854. Value graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
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This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.