[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 197 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.
Finding the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies School for You
The right area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies in the United States. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $10,888. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Hunter College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $10,698. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $34,007 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $14,094 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $32,083 early in their careers. Set against $14,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $26,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $22,500. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $27,058 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
West Valley College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College landed the #8 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Cerritos College landed the #9 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #10 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
California State University Northridge placed #11 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $26,767. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton came in at #12 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $17,643. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $28,794. That is a strong return on a $17,643 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Kapiolani Community College landed the #13 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students from in state pay about $3,284 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Students borrow a median of $14,738 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $48,210. That is a strong return on a $14,738 median debt.
De Anza College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,571, while out-of-state students pay about $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Foothill College came in at #15 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $11,595. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
Cuny City College came in at #16 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $20,532 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $26,973. That is a strong return on a $20,532 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Mt San Antonio College placed #17 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $9,384. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University East Bay ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $18,638. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $47,511. That is a strong return on a $18,638 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Citrus College placed #19 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #20 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $12,988. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $31,879. Set against $12,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Marcos landed the #21 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. That is a strong return on a $17,527 median debt. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
Diablo Valley College placed #22 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $27,813. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Sacramento ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $18,120 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $30,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Fullerton College came in at #24 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,151, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University earned the #25 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Students borrow a median of $18,660 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $62,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeastern Oklahoma State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value ranking:
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 · 197 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 197 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).
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-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.
