2026 Best Value General Master’s Degree Schools

1

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Our analysis ranked University Of California San Diego the best value for a degree in general in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.

2

Rice University
Houston, TX

Students looking for strong value in general will find it at Rice University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.

3

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #3 place for general. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the general program here. General graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.

4

Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL

A rank of #4 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for general. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,212. Early-career general graduates make about $49,340. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.

5

Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland, FL

Florida Polytechnic University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #5 spot this year. Florida Polytechnic University is a small public school located in the rural area of Lakeland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. General graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Florida Polytechnic University generally make around $64,823. The acceptance rate is 58%.

6

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University landed the #6 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.

7

Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University landed the #7 spot for general value this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,168. General graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,168 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #8 among the best values for general. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.

9

University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

University Of California Santa Barbara placed #9 among the best values for general. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $15,501. General graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Set against $15,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.

10

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Green Bay, WI

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #10 position for value in general this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. General graduates carry a median of $24,477 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

11

Saint Peters College
Jersey City, NJ

Saint Peters College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,552 in tuition and fees. General graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $50,944. That is a strong return on a $22,969 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

12

University Of Memphis
Memphis, TN

University Of Memphis earned the #12 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical student debt for general graduates is $26,315. Early-career general graduates make about $48,890. Set against $26,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.

13

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #13 for value in general this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $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.

14

New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Newark, NJ

New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #14 for value in general this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,755. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.

15

Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University earned the #15 position for value in general this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,800. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.

16

University Of North Texas
Denton, TX

University Of North Texas earned the #16 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. General graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.

17

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
La Crosse, WI

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. In-state tuition and fees average $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. General graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. That is a strong return on a $23,551 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.

18

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #18 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. General graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.

19

University Of Delaware
Newark, DE

University Of Delaware earned the #19 position for value in general this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. General graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.

20

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #20 among the best values for general. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. 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. General graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

21

University Of Phoenix Arizona
Phoenix, AZ

University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #21 for value in general this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $35,323. General graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $60,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.

22

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI

Grand Valley State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $50,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.

23

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #23 among the best values for general. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,577. Early-career general graduates make about $56,395. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.

24

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #24 for value in general this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,574. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. Set against $22,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

25

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. General graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.