2027 Best Value European Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[European Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/european-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong european studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for european studies students.
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2027 Best Value European Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the european studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value European Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in european studies in the United States. 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. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the european studies program here. European Studies 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. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #2 place for european studies. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. European Studies graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career european studies graduates make about $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Students looking for strong value in european studies will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the european studies program here. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $15,697. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $51,087. Set against $15,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for european studies. 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, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,746 to complete the european studies program here. European Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $23,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,746 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #6 position for value in european studies this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,922 to complete the european studies program here. European Studies graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $43,668 early in their careers. Set against $14,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University earned the #8 position for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the european studies program here. European Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #9 position for value in european studies this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Students borrow a median of $10,236 to complete the european studies program here. European Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $37,019 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,236 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #10 for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. European Studies graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans. European Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for european studies. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the european studies program here. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #12 position for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Early-career european studies graduates make about $29,746. That is a strong return on a $22,215 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Amherst College placed #13 among the best values for european studies. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. European Studies graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, european studies degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $49,149. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
Yale University placed #14 among the best values for european studies. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $14,357. Early-career european studies graduates make about $55,618. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Barnard College came in at #15 for value in european studies this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $69,888. European Studies graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. European Studies graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
Duke University earned the #16 position for value in european studies this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the european studies program here. Early-career european studies graduates make about $83,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Middlebury College placed #17 among the best values for european studies. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,593 to complete the european studies program here. 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 came in at #18 for value in european studies this year. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Typical student debt for european studies graduates is $26,000. European Studies graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #19 position for value in european studies this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
American University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value european studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. European Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. European Studies graduates of American University earn a median of $43,671 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Other European Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value european studies schools at other degree levels:
View All European Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
