by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 1 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value area studies schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in area studies, no school beat Brown University this year. 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. Area Studies graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $39,165. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the one ranked school only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.