2027 Best Value General Master’s Degree Schools
[General](/majors/engineering/electrical-and-computer-engineering/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general students.
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2027 Best Value General Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 list of the best value general schools in the United States. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,168, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,008 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $63,381. Set against $16,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for general. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
A rank of #4 makes Portland State University one of the best values for general. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for general graduates is $26,475. General graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the general program here. General graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #6 spot for general value this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. General graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University came in at #7 for value in general this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. General graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #8 for value in general this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,917. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Michigan Technological University earned the #9 position for value in general this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $12,184. Early-career general graduates make about $54,507. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University came in at #11 for value in general this year. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $53,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany earned the #12 position for value in general this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. General graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. General graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #13 among the best values for general. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,275. Early-career general graduates make about $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #14 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Typical student debt for general graduates is $26,162. Early-career general graduates make about $55,413. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $49,059. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Suny At Binghamton placed #16 among the best values for general. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $51,766. That is a strong return on a $20,691 median debt. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Brown University earned the #17 position for value in general this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $62,820. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Southern California ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. General graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. General graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford earned the #19 position for value in general this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the general program here. General graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Set against $24,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #20 position for value in general this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. General graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University came in at #21 for value in general this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,928. General graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
Other General Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General rankings across degree levels:
View All General Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
