2027 Best Value American U.S. Studies Master’s Degree Schools
[American U.S. Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/american-us-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for american u.s. studies students.
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2027 Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the american u.s. studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value American U.S. Studies Schools
California State University Los Angeles tops our 2027 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. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for american u.s. studies. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. American U.s. Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $31,955 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the best values for american u.s. studies. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in american u.s. studies will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $21,710 in student loans. American U.s. Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Set against $21,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value american u.s. studies schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the american u.s. studies program here. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #6 position for value in american u.s. studies this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $22,215. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $46,699. Set against $22,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best values for american u.s. studies. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $22,486. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $42,327. Set against $22,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Yale University placed #8 among the best values for american u.s. studies. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $14,357. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $55,618. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Cornell University placed #9 among the best values for american u.s. studies. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $17,625. American U.s. Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for value in american u.s. studies this year. 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. American U.s. Studies graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, american u.s. studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
New York University landed the #11 spot for american u.s. studies value this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $19,250. Early-career american u.s. studies graduates make about $64,516. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University came in at #12 for value in american u.s. studies this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Typical student debt for american u.s. studies graduates is $16,483. American U.s. Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $64,851 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. 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:
View All American U.S. Studies 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
