[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 809 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for finance students.
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value finance schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Bernard M Baruch College one of the best values for finance. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $54,991. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the best values for finance. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,162. Finance graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $56,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for finance. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $60,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned it the #5 place for finance. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $13,168 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,404. Students borrow a median of $14,208 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma 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 Tacoma Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $18,843 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $56,415. That is a strong return on a $18,843 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College placed #7 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $45,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
California State University Northridge landed the #8 spot for finance value this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Finance graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Finance graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,553 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of North Texas At Dallas ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,595, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #10 for value in finance this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,938 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $37,867. Set against $13,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Florida International University came in at #11 for value in finance this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Finance graduates carry a median of $18,835 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $51,633. Set against $18,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #12 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Finance graduates carry a median of $17,641 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $49,551. That is a strong return on a $17,641 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #13 spot for finance value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,239 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $55,882. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of Utah came in at #14 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,850. Early-career finance graduates make about $68,066. That is a strong return on a $18,850 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for finance. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,542. Finance graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $49,906 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,542 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #16 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $14,208. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $63,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Western Governors University earned the #17 position for value in finance this year. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Students borrow a median of $23,277 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $74,771 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
University Of North Florida came in at #18 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $15,836. Finance graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $51,118 early in their careers. Set against $15,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #19 for value in finance this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $17,625. Early-career finance graduates make about $55,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #20 for value in finance this year. 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, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $20,299. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $67,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #21 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $63,054. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Old Westbury earned the #22 position for value in finance this year. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,372, while out-of-state students pay about $18,842. Finance graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $46,941. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northern Illinois University landed the #23 spot for finance value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $54,802 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #24 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #25 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $83,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Finance Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in finance:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 809 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 490 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.
