2026 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Master’s Degree Schools
[Urban Education & Leadership](/majors/education/educational-administration/urban-education-and-leadership/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban education & leadership education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 52 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value urban education & leadership schools.
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2026 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in urban education & leadership, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Nevada Las Vegas the best value for a degree in urban education & leadership in the United States. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,181 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $69,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,181 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value urban education & leadership schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $19,349. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #3 place for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $61,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban education & leadership will find it at Kean University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $79,188. Set against $26,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
New Jersey City University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban education & leadership, landing the #5 spot this year. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $67,503. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #6 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $82,842. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value urban education & leadership schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $23,146. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $56,930. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #8 spot for urban education & leadership value this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $60,665. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #9 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo earned the #10 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $55,322. Set against $25,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #11 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $39,662. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $56,983 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value urban education & leadership schools. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $47,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,301 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value urban education & leadership schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $26,632 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. That is a strong return on a $26,632 median debt. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #14 among the best values for urban education & leadership. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $25,574. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $54,342. That is a strong return on a $25,574 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #15 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $13,975. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $59,445 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #16 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $26,582. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $79,733. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Michigan State University earned the #17 position for value in urban education & leadership 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, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #18 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $60,719 early in their careers. Set against $21,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #19 among the best values for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,235 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,185 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $131,211. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Rockford College placed #20 among the best values for urban education & leadership. Located in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,780. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $28,094. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $73,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The College Of New Jersey placed #21 among the best values for urban education & leadership. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $24,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $70,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University landed the #22 spot for urban education & leadership value this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $75,539. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Temple University came in at #23 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $62,647. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #24 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #25 spot for urban education & leadership value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 33 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s urban education & leadership value ranking:
Other Urban Education & Leadership Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Urban Education & Leadership rankings across degree levels:
View All Urban Education & Leadership Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
