2026 Best Value American U.S. Studies Master’s Degree Schools
[American U.S. Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/american-us-studies/) 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 205 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value american u.s. studies schools.
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2026 Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in american u.s. studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools
California State University Los Angeles tops our 2026 list of the best value american u.s. studies schools in the United States. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $48,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in american u.s. studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harvard University earned it the #3 place for american u.s. studies. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. American U.s. Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #4 place for american u.s. studies. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $21,710 in student loans. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. That is a strong return on a $21,710 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in american u.s. studies, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. American U.s. Studies graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $26,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #6 spot for american u.s. studies value this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $22,215 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $46,699. That is a strong return on a $22,215 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #7 spot for american u.s. 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. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $42,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University landed the #8 spot for american u.s. studies value 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. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $12,000. American U.s. Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $39,165 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #9 for value in american u.s. studies this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. American U.s. Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $55,618 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
New York University came in at #10 for value in american u.s. studies this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $51,233. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value american u.s. studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $64,851. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Other American U.S. Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value American U.S. Studies rankings across degree levels:
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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 · 205 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
