by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Harvard University this year. 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. Value graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Value graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,195. Early-career value graduates make about $53,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #3 makes Yale University one of the best values for value. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,107. Early-career value graduates make about $32,624. Set against $13,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Boston University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,232. Value 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. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Simmons College earned it the #5 place for value. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,740. Value graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $63,860 early in their careers. Set against $26,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Mount Holyoke College placed #6 among the best values for value. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,018. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,041. Early-career value graduates make about $35,038. That is a strong return on a $22,041 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,042. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
Tufts University earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.