by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 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.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Ridgewater College this year. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $14,171 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $37,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dakota County Technical College earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Value graduates carry a median of $18,255 in student loans. Value graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $36,866 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,255 median debt.
Rochester Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,250. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $38,817. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.