by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/) 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 34 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for medicine students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medicine degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 best value for medicine in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $13,426. Early-career medicine graduates make about $68,008. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny City College one of the best values for medicine. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Medicine graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $74,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in medicine will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Medicine graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $73,751. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #4 place for medicine. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $78,891. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University At Buffalo one of the best values for medicine. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $64,438. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Rowan University earned the #6 position for value in medicine this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Medicine graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $66,847. That is a strong return on a $24,488 median debt. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
New York Institute Of Technology earned the #7 position for value in medicine this year. Located in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,560. Medicine graduates carry a median of $25,435 in student loans. Medicine graduates of New York Institute Of Technology earn a median of $69,106 early in their careers. Set against $25,435 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #8 among the best values for medicine. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $25,120. Early-career medicine graduates make about $69,793. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Touro College came in at #9 for value in medicine this year. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $20,285. Early-career medicine graduates make about $67,607. Set against $20,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas Jefferson University placed #10 among the best values for medicine. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Students borrow a median of $32,256 to complete the medicine program here. Medicine graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $67,992 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #11 for value in medicine this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Medicine graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Early-career medicine graduates make about $67,343. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #12 position for value in medicine this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Medicine graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Early-career medicine graduates make about $67,571. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Rochester ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Medicine graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Medicine graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $67,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot for medicine value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $71,367. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in medicine this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #16 among the best values for medicine. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hofstra University landed the #17 spot for medicine value this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $74,616. Set against $24,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Medicine graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $68,275. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Drexel University placed #19 among the best values for medicine. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $28,838. Medicine graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $68,085 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Georgetown University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $68,568. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Howard University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $66,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 41%.
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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.