2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the New England Region
[Near & Middle Eastern Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/near-and-middle-eastern-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong near & middle eastern studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in the New England Region
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 Williams College the best value for a degree in near & middle eastern studies in the New England Region. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,615 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $38,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in near & middle eastern studies will find it at Wellesley College, which ranked #3. 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. Students borrow a median of $9,525 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $43,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Middlebury College one of the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $11,593 in student loans. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $54,713. That is a strong return on a $11,593 median debt. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Smith College earned it the #5 place for near & middle eastern studies. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $19,000. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Smith College earn a median of $29,878 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Brown University placed #6 among the best values for near & middle eastern studies. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $39,165 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University landed the #7 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $25,232. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Yale University earned the #8 position for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Dartmouth College landed the #9 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $16,520. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $48,565. That is a strong return on a $16,520 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University earned the #10 position for value in near & middle eastern studies this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $43,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Narrow Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools by State
More Near & Middle Eastern Studies Rankings
View All Near & Middle Eastern Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
