2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in Massachusetts

[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for near & middle eastern studies students.
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2026 Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools in Massachusetts
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
Williams College tops our 2026 list of the best value near & middle eastern studies schools in Massachusetts. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. Typical student debt for near & middle eastern studies graduates is $12,615. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $38,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harvard University earned it the #2 place for near & middle eastern studies. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wellesley College earned it the #3 place for near & middle eastern studies. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,176. Students borrow a median of $9,525 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $43,231 early in their careers. Set against $9,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Smith College one of the best values 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. Early-career near & middle eastern studies graduates make about $29,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #5 place for near & middle eastern studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Near & Middle Eastern Studies graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University landed the #6 spot for near & middle eastern studies value this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the near & middle eastern studies program here. Soon after graduation, near & middle eastern studies degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $43,748. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.