2027 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Master’s Degree Schools

[Near & Middle Eastern Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/near-and-middle-eastern-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for near & middle eastern studies students.
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2027 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the near & middle eastern studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of California Los Angeles the best value for a degree in near & middle eastern studies in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $17,746 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $23,819. Set against $17,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $14,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $44,276. Set against $14,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #3 place for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $38,008. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in near & middle eastern studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $20,850. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $20,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #6 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $31,480 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #7 among the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $22,215 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $46,699. That is a strong return on a $22,215 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #8 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,486 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Yale University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University landed the #10 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $43,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $51,233. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University came in at #13 for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $64,851 early in their careers. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Other Near & Middle Eastern Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Near & Middle Eastern Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Near & Middle Eastern Studies Rankings >
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.