ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Native American Studies Master’s Degree Schools

1 Colleges in the United States
$19,477 Avg Student Debt
$58,906 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Native American Studies Master's Degree Badge [Native American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-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 116 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for native american studies students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/native-american-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 05.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in History - American History" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in History - American History" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MA in History - American History" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MA in History - American History" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

2026 Best Value Native American Studies Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in native american studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Native American Studies Schools

1

Southeastern Oklahoma State University tops our 2026 list of the best value native american studies schools in the United States. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Durant. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Students borrow a median of $18,660 to complete the native american studies program here. Soon after graduation, native american studies degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $62,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.

2

A rank of #2 makes Oglala Lakota College one of the best values for native american studies. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kyle. Students from in state pay about $2,684 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,517 ten years after entry.

3

San Francisco State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in native american studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,875 to complete the native american studies program here. Early-career native american studies graduates make about $31,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

4

University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in native american studies, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Native American Studies graduates carry a median of $15,740 in student loans. Early-career native american studies graduates make about $34,559. That is a strong return on a $15,740 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.

5

Students looking for strong value in native american studies will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #5. 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. Typical student debt for native american studies graduates is $15,000. Early-career native american studies graduates make about $45,247. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #6 spot for native american studies value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the native american studies program here. Native American Studies graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $38,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.

7

Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #7 spot for native american studies value this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Native American Studies graduates carry a median of $24,585 in student loans. Soon after graduation, native american studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. That is a strong return on a $24,585 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.

Other Native American Studies Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Native American Studies rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Native American Studies
Associate's Degrees in Native American Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in Native American Studies
ADBLOCK #173
View All Native American Studies Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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 · 116 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options