2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Adult & Continuing Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/adult-continuing-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value adult & continuing education schools.
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2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the adult & continuing education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny City College the best value for a degree in adult & continuing education in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $9,916. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $53,154. That is a strong return on a $9,916 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Empire State College earned it the #2 place for adult & continuing education. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $23,693. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Coppin State University one of the best values for adult & continuing education. Coppin State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,024. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $33,865 in student loans. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Coppin State University earn a median of $50,062 early in their careers. Set against $33,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coppin State University admits about 46% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in adult & continuing education will find it at Suny College At Buffalo, which ranked #4. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $26,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $39,659. Set against $26,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned it the #5 place for adult & continuing education. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Le Moyne College placed #6 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,330. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $25,739 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Le Moyne College generally make around $57,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg earned the #7 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,972, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $60,618 early in their careers. Set against $25,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Point Park University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,570. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $28,323. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $40,759. That is a strong return on a $28,323 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of New Jersey placed #10 among the best values for adult & continuing education. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,632, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $26,000. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $56,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Robert Morris University earned the #11 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,770. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $26,748 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $58,900. That is a strong return on a $26,748 median debt. Robert Morris University admits about 90% of applicants.
Widener University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chester. In-state tuition and fees average $55,730. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $44,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot for adult & continuing education value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $16,155. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $59,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.