2026 Best Value Labor Studies Schools
[Labor Studies](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/labor-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong labor studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for labor studies students.
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Finding the Best Value Labor Studies School for You
The right labor studies school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Labor Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
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 Labor Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Labor Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the labor studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Labor Studies Schools
Florida International University tops our 2026 list of the best value labor studies schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Labor Studies graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career labor studies graduates make about $53,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Students looking for strong value in labor studies will find it at Suny Empire State College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the labor studies program here. Early-career labor studies graduates make about $58,140. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for labor studies. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Labor Studies graduates carry a median of $25,422 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $51,570. Set against $25,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for labor studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Labor Studies graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Labor Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for labor studies. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Labor Studies graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Early-career labor studies graduates make about $52,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #6 for value in labor studies this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for labor studies graduates is $23,475. Early-career labor studies graduates make about $78,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #7 for value in labor studies this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for labor studies graduates is $25,234. Labor Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
