[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 508 schools to find the best return on investment for finance students.
For return on investment in finance, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,954 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $70,663. Set against $17,954 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $11,000. Finance graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $54,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
A rank of #3 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for finance. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $60,947. Set against $12,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Florida State University one of the best values for finance. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Finance graduates carry a median of $18,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $56,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Tacoma Campus one of the best values for finance. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,168 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $14,208. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus generally make around $63,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #6 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,938 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $37,867 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,938 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,843. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $56,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #8 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Finance graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $55,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Cuny Queens College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $45,168. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #10 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $17,641 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Oakland University placed #11 among the best values for finance. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,944 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $61,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University came in at #12 for value in finance this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,835. Finance graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $51,633 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #13 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $19,542 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $49,906 early in their careers. Set against $19,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #14 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Students borrow a median of $15,836 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $51,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Portland State University placed #15 among the best values for finance. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,570 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $52,859. That is a strong return on a $20,570 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #16 for value in finance this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Finance graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $75,381. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Georgia placed #17 among the best values for finance. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $20,299. Finance graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $67,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,150. Finance graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $58,438 early in their careers. Set against $22,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #19 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Finance graduates carry a median of $16,896 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $37,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #20 for value in finance this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Finance graduates carry a median of $14,208 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $63,500 early in their careers. Set against $14,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Southern Utah University placed #21 among the best values for finance. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Finance graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $44,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
Weber State University landed the #22 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $49,939. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
Ferris State University earned the #23 position for value in finance this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $54,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Western Governors University landed the #24 spot for finance value this year. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,277 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $74,771. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
Texas A And M University Central Texas landed the #25 spot for finance value this year. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,160 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $50,370. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Finance Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for finance this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 508 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 508 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).
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) 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.
