2026 Best Value French Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[French Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/french-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools to find the best return on investment for french studies students.
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2026 Best Value French Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in french studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value French Studies Schools
For return on investment in french studies, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. 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, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,922 to complete the french studies program here. Early-career french studies graduates make about $65,681. Set against $14,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #2 place for french studies. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,167 to complete the french studies program here. Soon after graduation, french studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $21,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the best values for french studies. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. French Studies graduates carry a median of $22,215 in student loans. French Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $29,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Bowdoin College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value french studies schools. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the french studies program here. Soon after graduation, french studies degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $45,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Wellesley College one of the best values for french studies. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for french studies graduates is $9,525. Early-career french studies graduates make about $48,902. That is a strong return on a $9,525 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University placed #6 among the best values for french studies. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Typical student debt for french studies graduates is $12,000. French Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $39,165 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Wesleyan University landed the #7 spot for french studies value this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for french studies graduates is $16,125. French Studies graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Dartmouth College landed the #8 spot for french studies value this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,019. French Studies graduates carry a median of $16,520 in student loans. Early-career french studies graduates make about $81,992. Set against $16,520 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value french studies schools. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. French Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french studies degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value french studies schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. French Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $51,233. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College came in at #11 for value in french studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for french studies graduates is $19,000. French Studies graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fordham University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value french studies schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. French Studies graduates carry a median of $26,884 in student loans. French Studies graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Set against $26,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
Other French Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value french studies schools at other degree levels:
View All French Studies Rankings >
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 · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
