by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for ethnic studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the ethnic studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for ethnic studies in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $16,616. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at Amherst College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $18,032 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $40,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for ethnic studies. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethnic studies, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $26,965 in student loans. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $41,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at Smith College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $19,105. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College came in at #6 for value in ethnic studies this year. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,041 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $35,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University earned the #7 position for value in ethnic studies this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $24,226. Ethnic Studies graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $35,057 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,226 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.