2027 Best Value African Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[African Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/african-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for african studies students.
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2027 Best Value African Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in african studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value African Studies Schools
Stanford University earned the #1 spot for value among african studies schools in the United States. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for african studies. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $17,746. Early-career african studies graduates make about $23,819. That is a strong return on a $17,746 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for african studies. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. African Studies graduates carry a median of $16,984 in student loans. African Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $28,261 early in their careers. Set against $16,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Bowdoin College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in african studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Students from in state pay about $67,832 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $24,000. Early-career african studies graduates make about $45,315. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowdoin College admits about 7% of applicants.
Kennesaw State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in african studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $27,004. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $53,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for value in african studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $20,850. African Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $20,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #7 spot for african studies value this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $22,486 to complete the african studies program here. Early-career african studies graduates make about $86,770. Set against $22,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University landed the #8 spot for african studies value this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the african studies program here. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $55,618. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University came in at #9 for value in african studies this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the african studies program here. African Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $39,165 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Iowa ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value african studies schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for african studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $19,426. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University earned the #11 position for value in african studies this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the african studies program here. Early-career african studies graduates make about $83,388. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
Barnard College came in at #12 for value in african studies this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the african studies program here. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $34,142. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College came in at #13 for value in african studies this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,593 to complete the african studies program here. Soon after graduation, african studies degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $40,467. Set against $11,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity College earned the #14 position for value in african studies this year. Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hartford. Students from in state pay about $70,770 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,667 to complete the african studies program here. Early-career african studies graduates make about $52,927. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Connecticut College placed #15 among the best values for african studies. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. In-state tuition and fees average $67,242. African Studies graduates carry a median of $21,220 in student loans. African Studies graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $43,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,220 median debt. Connecticut College admits about 37% of applicants.
Dickinson College placed #16 among the best values for african studies. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,802 to complete the african studies program here. African Studies graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $32,722 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dickinson College admits about 42% of applicants.
Other African Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value African Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All African Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
