by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethics](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/ethics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ethics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for ethics students.
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The ethics program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Ethics Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Ethics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ethics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for value among ethics schools in the United States. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,636 to complete the ethics program here. Early-career ethics graduates make about $51,242. That is a strong return on a $15,636 median debt.
University Of North Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethics, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete the ethics program here. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the ethics program here. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $42,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in ethics will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Ethics graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $42,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #5 place for ethics. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $26,250. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $40,286. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #6 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Ethics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $29,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #7 for value in ethics this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $18,500. Ethics graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $50,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Harvard University placed #8 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $16,616. Ethics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value ethics schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $25,500. Ethics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $34,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University placed #10 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $51,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,043 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Texas Tech University earned the #11 position for value in ethics this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Ethics graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Yale University placed #12 among the best values for ethics. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Temple University came in at #13 for value in ethics this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of Temple University earn a median of $28,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #14 among the best values for ethics. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Ethics graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
American University came in at #15 for value in ethics this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $24,139. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,030. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. American University admits about 62% of applicants.
Fordham University placed #16 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $22,999. Early-career ethics graduates make about $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
Ethics is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.