by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/business-analytics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in value, no school beat La Salle University this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,800. Students borrow a median of $25,462 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $54,618 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,462 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Eastern University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $50,474 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. 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, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place for value. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,155. Early-career value graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,008. Early-career value graduates make about $70,321. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 26%.
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Drexel University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $67,556. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bucknell University came in at #7 for value in value this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,812. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $64,331. Set against $25,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.