by our College Data Analytics Team
[General](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 320 schools to find the best return on investment for general students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in general, no school beat Florida Atlantic University this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,212. Early-career general graduates make about $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,620. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at Arizona State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. General graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $55,876. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of North Texas came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,817. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. General graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
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Middle Tennessee State University placed #6 among the best values for general. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. General graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. General graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #8 for value in general this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. General graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. General graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #10 position for value in general this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Students borrow a median of $23,276 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $65,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #11 position for value in general this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $51,799 early in their careers. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #12 position for value in general this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #13 for value in general this year. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, compared with $17,434 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,925. Early-career general graduates make about $46,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #14 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,531. Early-career general graduates make about $58,507. Set against $20,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Phoenix Arizona ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. General graduates carry a median of $35,323 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $60,453. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.
South Dakota State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $51,260. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Winona State University landed the #17 spot for general value this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $53,109. That is a strong return on a $24,551 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University came in at #18 for value in general this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,361. Early-career general graduates make about $41,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Toledo earned the #19 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,923. Early-career general graduates make about $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Vermont ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,607. General graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. Set against $22,607 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #21 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,843. General graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa landed the #22 spot for general value this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. General graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
College Of William And Mary placed #23 among the best values for general. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Oregon landed the #24 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. General graduates carry a median of $22,034 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $44,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #25 for value in general this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. General graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general value ranking:
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Explore the best-value general schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled 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 · 320 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.