2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/digital-marketing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is Goldey Beacom College, our #1 best value for value in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Wilmington, Goldey Beacom College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,940. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,743. Value graduates of Goldey Beacom College earn a median of $57,634 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Goldey Beacom College admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilmington University earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,630. Students borrow a median of $20,430 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Wilmington University earn a median of $39,794 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $26,676 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $39,247. That is a strong return on a $26,676 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,200. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $38,328. Set against $22,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. Value graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $37,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best values for value. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for value graduates is $18,721. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $37,663. That is a strong return on a $18,721 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College came in at #7 for value in value this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Value graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $45,748. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
Elizabethtown College landed the #8 spot for value value this year. Set in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,599 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
St Johns University New York earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $33,534. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Adelphi University came in at #10 for value in value this year. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,775. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,000. Early-career value graduates make about $42,200. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Adelphi University admits about 66% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.