by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/rural-sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,802. Early-career value graduates make about $35,889. That is a strong return on a $17,802 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.