2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools
[Area Studies, Other](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/area-studies-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value area studies, other schools.
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Finding the Best Value Area Studies, Other School for You
The right area studies, other school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area studies, other degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among area studies, other schools in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $11,300 to complete the area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in area studies, other will find it at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for area studies, other. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $31,955 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #4 place for area studies, other. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $14,922. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $43,972. Set against $14,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Utah State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $31,894. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #6 for value in area studies, other this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $17,746. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $23,819 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $22,697. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Set against $22,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 33%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #8 spot for area studies, other value this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $22,050. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,050 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $24,250. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $44,096. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $23,500. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $35,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for area studies, other. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
College Of William And Mary landed the #12 spot for area studies, other value this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Area Studies, Other graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,779 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #13 position for value in area studies, other this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $32,064 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,125 median debt. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Boston University placed #14 among the best values for area studies, other. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $25,232. Area Studies, Other graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Yale University landed the #15 spot for area studies, other value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $14,357. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $55,618. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $24,958. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Southern California came in at #17 for value in area studies, other this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the area studies, other program here. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Duke University came in at #18 for value in area studies, other this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the area studies, other program here. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $83,388. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
New York University earned the #19 position for value in area studies, other this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Barnard College came in at #20 for value in area studies, other this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,888. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the area studies, other program here. Area Studies, Other graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $34,142 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of San Francisco landed the #21 spot for area studies, other value this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,522. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete the area studies, other program here. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $65,223 early in their careers. Set against $23,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of San Francisco admits about 62% of applicants.
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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 · 100 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
