2026 Best Value Political Economy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Political Economy](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-economy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value political economy schools.
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2026 Best Value Political Economy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political economy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Economy Schools
Leading the list is Suny College At Old Westbury, our #1 best value for political economy in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Old Westbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, while out-of-state students pay about $18,842. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $22,250. Early-career political economy graduates make about $34,666. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Geneseo earned it the #2 place for political economy. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. Students from in state pay about $8,999 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $37,022. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in political economy will find it at La Salle University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $27,000. Early-career political economy graduates make about $54,618. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Temple University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political economy, landing the #4 spot 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, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $25,815 in student loans. Early-career political economy graduates make about $36,011. Set against $25,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #5 makes Muhlenberg College one of the best values for political economy. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,805. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the political economy program here. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $25,058. Set against $26,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Drexel University landed the #6 spot for political economy value this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $28,838. Political Economy graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University landed the #7 spot for political economy value this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,297. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.