2027 Best Value European Studies Schools
[European Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/european-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for european studies students.
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Finding the Best Value European Studies School for You
Where you study european studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value European Studies 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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2027 Best Value European Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in european studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value European Studies Schools
For return on investment in european studies, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the european studies program here. Early-career european studies graduates make about $31,955. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in european studies will find it at Rice University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Students looking for strong value in european studies will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $17,500. Early-career european studies graduates make about $54,471. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #4 place for european studies. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. European Studies graduates carry a median of $15,697 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $51,087. That is a strong return on a $15,697 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #5 place for european studies. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. European Studies graduates carry a median of $17,746 in student loans. Early-career european studies graduates make about $23,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. European Studies graduates carry a median of $14,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies 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. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University placed #7 among the best values for european studies. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. European Studies graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. European Studies graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of California Irvine came in at #8 for value in european studies this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $16,539. Early-career european studies graduates make about $30,897. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #9 among the best values for european studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the european studies program here. Early-career european studies graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,050 to complete the european studies program here. Early-career european studies graduates make about $24,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. European Studies graduates carry a median of $10,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $37,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for european studies value this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $20,850. Early-career european studies graduates make about $59,877. Set against $20,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. European Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. European Studies graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #14 spot for european studies value this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,215 to complete the european studies program here. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $38,223. Set against $22,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the european studies program here. Early-career european studies graduates make about $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Amherst College came in at #16 for value in european studies this year. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $70,480. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $15,398. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $49,149. Set against $15,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
Yale University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $14,357. Early-career european studies graduates make about $55,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College came in at #18 for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. European Studies graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career european studies graduates make about $50,790. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. European Studies graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #20 for value in european studies this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. European Studies graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Middlebury College placed #21 among the best values for european studies. 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. European Studies graduates carry a median of $11,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $40,467. Set against $11,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Brandeis University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
New York University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. European Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. European Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of $51,233 early in their careers. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. European Studies graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Early-career european studies graduates make about $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
American University came in at #25 for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the european studies program here. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $43,671. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
