2027 Best Value Area Studies, Other Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Area Studies, Other](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/area-studies-other/) 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 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for area studies, other students.
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2027 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area studies, other, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in area studies, other in the United States. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $13,000. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $31,955 early in their careers. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in area studies, other will find it at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #2. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $11,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value area studies, other schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $17,746 in student loans. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,746 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for area studies, other. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $14,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $43,668. That is a strong return on a $14,922 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Nevada State College placed #6 among the best values for area studies, other. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Nevada State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,765, while out-of-state students pay about $21,833. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $34,213. Area Studies, Other graduates of Nevada State College earn a median of $54,607 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,213 median debt. Nevada State College admits about 87% of applicants.
Utah State University placed #7 among the best values for area studies, other. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $13,000. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $31,894. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #8 position for value in area studies, other this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,697 to complete the area studies, other program here. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $45,488. Set against $22,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #9 spot for area studies, other value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $20,850 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
College Of William And Mary came in at #10 for value in area studies, other this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,779. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #11 among the best values for area studies, other. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the area studies, other program here. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $44,096. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, 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. Set against $20,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Yale University earned the #13 position for value in area studies, other this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $55,618. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #14 position for value in area studies, other this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Barnard College placed #15 among the best values for area studies, other. 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. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $34,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University earned the #16 position for value in area studies, other 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 area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #17 among the best values for area studies, other. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the area studies, other program here. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $51,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Occidental College landed the #18 spot for area studies, other value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,274 in tuition and fees. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $22,967 in student loans. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $41,514. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Francisco landed the #19 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. In-state tuition and fees average $60,522. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Area Studies, Other graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $65,223 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,935 median debt. University Of San Francisco admits about 62% of applicants.
Other Area Studies, Other Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Area Studies, Other rankings across degree levels:
View All Area Studies, Other Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
