2027 Best Value General Schools
[General](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 132 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general schools.
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Finding the Best Value General School for You
The right general school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value General Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value General Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value General Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Schools
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among general schools in the United States. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. General graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. General graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. General graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Rice University one of the best values for general. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. 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. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #5. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida placed #6 among the best values for general. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Stanford University came in at #7 for value in general this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the general program here. General graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
St Petersburg College came in at #8 for value in general this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,385. General graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #9 spot for general value this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for general graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University landed the #10 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. General graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College placed #12 among the best values for general. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery College earned the #13 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Houston Victoria earned the #14 position for value in general this year. Located in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,149, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,081. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Houston Victoria generally make around $47,345. That is a strong return on a $24,081 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University came in at #15 for value in general this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,800. Early-career general graduates make about $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #16 among the best values for general. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $45,531. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
Christian Brothers University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,420. Typical student debt for general graduates is $32,416. Early-career general graduates make about $51,040. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Truman State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. General graduates carry a median of $23,168 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $23,168 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. General graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $47,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #20 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. General graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. General graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Saint Peters College placed #21 among the best values for general. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. Students from in state pay about $42,552 in tuition and fees. General graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. General graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $50,944 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
New College Of Florida came in at #22 for value in general this year. Set in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,916, compared with $29,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $17,407. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from New College Of Florida generally make around $26,626. That is a strong return on a $17,407 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,778. General graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Houston Downtown landed the #24 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,925. General graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis earned the #25 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $48,890. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general:
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to General. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 132 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 132 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.
