by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for ethnic studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the ethnic studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in ethnic studies, no school beat Harvard University this year. 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 ethnic studies graduates is $16,616. Ethnic Studies 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. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,984 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $25,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethnic studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #4 place for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $26,965 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $41,872 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,965 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Amherst College earned it the #5 place for ethnic studies. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,032 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $40,120 early in their careers. Set against $18,032 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Yale University earned the #6 position for value in ethnic studies this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $13,107 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $32,624. Set against $13,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Boston University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #8 position for value in ethnic studies this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $21,875. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $28,181. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College landed the #9 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,176. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $43,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Simmons College placed #10 among the best values for ethnic studies. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,874. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $26,740. Ethnic Studies 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. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #11 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,018. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $22,041. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $35,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College earned the #12 position for value in ethnic studies this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of Smith College earn a median of $19,105 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Dartmouth College came in at #13 for value in ethnic studies this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $15,157. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $31,967. That is a strong return on a $15,157 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Wesleyan University came in at #14 for value in ethnic studies this year. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,042. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $39,764. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University came in at #15 for value in ethnic studies this year. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,226 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $35,057. Set against $24,226 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.
Tufts University landed the #16 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $17,074. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.