by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 68 schools to find the best return on investment 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 Montgomery College this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $24,833. Set against $11,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes New Jersey Institute Of Technology one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,755 median debt. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Delaware one of the best values for value. 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. Value graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Saint Peters College one of the best values for value. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,969. Early-career value graduates make about $50,944. That is a strong return on a $22,969 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Maryland University College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $65,890. That is a strong return on a $23,276 median debt.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,258. Value graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Monroe College Main Campus landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,464. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,701. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $40,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in value this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Value graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans. Value graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Set against $26,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
Utica College earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,930. Students borrow a median of $27,237 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Utica College earn a median of $53,602 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,237 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Eastern University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
Mercyhurst College placed #11 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,770. Students borrow a median of $25,705 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $46,009. Set against $25,705 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Value graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Value graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
St Lawrence University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,900. Students borrow a median of $26,192 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from St Lawrence University generally make around $39,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Clarkson University came in at #14 for value in value this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,566 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $74,144. That is a strong return on a $26,566 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lehigh University landed the #16 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,008. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 26%.
New York University landed the #17 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Value graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Value graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Saint Josephs University earned the #18 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Drexel University came in at #19 for value in value this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
American University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of American University earn a median of $54,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University placed #21 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,643. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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 · 68 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.