2026 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools

1

Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $10,698 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $34,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.

2

Cuny Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY

A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $14,094 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $32,083. That is a strong return on a $14,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.

3

University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $22,875. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $26,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.

4

Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oxnard College earned it the #4 place for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.

5

California State University Fresno
Fresno, CA

A rank of #5 makes California State University Fresno one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.

6

Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA

Mt San Antonio College placed #6 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $9,384. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

West Valley College
Saratoga, CA

West Valley College placed #7 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. In-state tuition and fees average $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

California State University Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA

California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #8 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Set against $15,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.

9

California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton landed the #9 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $17,643. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $28,965 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,643 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

10

California State University Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $27,058. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

11

Fresno City College
Fresno, CA

Fresno City College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $7,234. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University came in at #12 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

13

Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College came in at #13 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $85,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

14

Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College earned the #14 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $20,532. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $26,973. Set against $20,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.

15

Citrus College
Glendora, CA

Citrus College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.

16

Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, OK

Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #16 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Students borrow a median of $18,660 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender 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. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

17

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach earned the #17 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,363. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $28,470. Set against $15,363 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.

18

California State University Northridge
Northridge, CA

California State University Northridge came in at #18 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,000. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.

19

Henry Ford Community College
Dearborn, MI

Henry Ford Community College came in at #19 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.

20

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $41,156. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.

21

California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, CA

California State University San Marcos came in at #21 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $17,527. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

22

Sierra College
Rocklin, CA

Sierra College earned the #22 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $12,733. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

23

California State University East Bay
Hayward, CA

California State University East Bay landed the #23 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,638 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $47,511. Set against $18,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.

24

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
New York, NY

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $8,794. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. Set against $8,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

25

City College Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

City College Of San Francisco earned the #25 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.