by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/nursing-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
College Of Mount St Joseph earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,150. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $69,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
A rank of #2 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for value. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Value graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Value graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Value graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Case Western Reserve University earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Value graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Value graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.