2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools

[Actuarial Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong actuarial science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 168 schools to find the best return on investment for actuarial science students.
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Finding the Best Value Actuarial Science School for You
The actuarial science program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Actuarial Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Actuarial Science Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the actuarial science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Actuarial Science Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Bernard M Baruch College the best value for a degree in actuarial science in the United States. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $9,000. Actuarial Science graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $82,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #2 spot this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $62,578. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #3 place for actuarial science. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Central Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for actuarial science. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $18,284 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $70,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #6 position for value in actuarial science this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $169,099. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the best values for actuarial science. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #8 position for value in actuarial science this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $11,128. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $66,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #9 for value in actuarial science 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $18,866. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $73,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #10 spot for actuarial science 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. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $79,777. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #11 spot for actuarial science value this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $73,406 early in their careers. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University placed #12 among the best values for actuarial science. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $21,600. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Set against $21,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #13 for value in actuarial science this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the actuarial science program here. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $74,675 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Oakland University placed #14 among the best values for actuarial science. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $69,446. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value actuarial science schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #16 for value in actuarial science this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for actuarial science value this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $23,399. Actuarial Science graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $48,847 early in their careers. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #18 for value in actuarial science this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $23,725 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $72,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #19 for value in actuarial science 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, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $21,000. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $72,316 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #20 spot for actuarial science value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $83,260. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside came in at #21 for value in actuarial science this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $55,862. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
New Jersey City University came in at #22 for value in actuarial science this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the actuarial science program here. Actuarial Science graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $47,083 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,107 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University landed the #23 spot for actuarial science value this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $16,654. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $67,350. Set against $16,654 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Towson University came in at #24 for value in actuarial science this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,370. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value actuarial science schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $31,016 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $51,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s actuarial science value ranking:
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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 · 168 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 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.