by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 27 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.
University Of North Texas At Dallas tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in Texas. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for value. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,694. Value graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Value graduates carry a median of $23,312 in student loans. Value graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,955 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Value graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,201. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Midwestern State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,950, while out-of-state students pay about $11,770. Students borrow a median of $26,415 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $49,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
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Lamar University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,988. Value graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Houston landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Angelo State University came in at #8 for value in value this year. Located in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Students borrow a median of $21,237 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $46,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,237 median debt. Angelo State University admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of North Texas came in at #9 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Value graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,157. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #10 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Students borrow a median of $23,925 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Value graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. That is a strong return on a $21,632 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #12 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,531. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $58,507. That is a strong return on a $20,531 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,659. Early-career value graduates make about $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #14 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Value graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Wesleyan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Texas Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $39,582 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,461 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $59,434. That is a strong return on a $26,461 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University placed #16 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $60,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Baylor University landed the #17 spot for value value this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,928. Value graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.