2027 Best Value Russian Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Russian Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/russian-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value russian studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Russian Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the russian studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Russian Studies Schools
For return on investment in russian studies, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for russian studies graduates is $11,300. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in russian studies will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #2. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $14,922 to complete the russian studies program here. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $14,922 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in russian studies will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $17,746 in student loans. Russian Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $23,819 early in their careers. Set against $17,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,984 to complete the russian studies program here. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $16,984 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,697 to complete the russian studies program here. Russian Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,697 median debt. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
Harvard University placed #6 among the best values for russian studies. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the russian studies program here. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Russian Studies graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #8 spot for russian studies value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $41,479. Set against $22,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #9 for value in russian studies this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $22,215 to complete the russian studies program here. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $29,746. That is a strong return on a $22,215 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #10 position for value in russian studies this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Typical student debt for russian studies graduates is $26,197. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $44,396. That is a strong return on a $26,197 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #11 for value in russian studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the russian studies program here. Russian Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $55,618 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College landed the #12 spot for russian studies value this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $9,525 in student loans. Russian Studies graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Set against $9,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $69,494. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Barnard College placed #14 among the best values for russian studies. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,888. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the russian studies program here. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $50,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Dartmouth College came in at #15 for value in russian studies this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,520 to complete the russian studies program here. Russian Studies graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $48,565 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Wesleyan University came in at #16 for value in russian studies this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,042. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career russian studies graduates make about $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
Middlebury College landed the #17 spot for russian studies value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $11,593 to complete the russian studies program here. Russian Studies graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $40,467 early in their careers. Set against $11,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Brandeis University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Typical student debt for russian studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $43,748. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.
New York University landed the #19 spot for russian studies value this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for russian studies graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, russian 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.
Oberlin College came in at #20 for value in russian studies this year. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,366. Russian Studies graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Russian Studies graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $20,905 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,951 median debt. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
American University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value russian studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the russian studies program here. Soon after graduation, russian studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $54,585. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Other Russian Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Russian Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Russian Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.