2027 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 136 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.
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2027 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools
Princeton University tops our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools in the United States. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Cuny Hunter College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $10,698 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $34,007 early in their careers. Set against $10,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $14,094 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $32,083. That is a strong return on a $14,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
California State University Fresno came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. 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.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Florida one of the best values 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $26,198. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
California State University Los Angeles earned the #6 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $27,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
California State University Northridge ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,767 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton earned the #8 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Students borrow a median of $17,643 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $28,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Cuny City College earned the #9 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $20,532 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. 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.
California State University East Bay ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,638 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $47,511 early in their careers. Set against $18,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #11 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $12,988 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $31,868. That is a strong return on a $12,988 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos came in at #12 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,527 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State University Sacramento came in at #13 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $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. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #14 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach earned the #15 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,363. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $28,459. Set against $15,363 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Haskell Indian Nations University earned the #16 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $600. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $23,887. Haskell Indian Nations University admits about 90% of applicants.
Rice University came in at #17 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $11,904. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Georgia ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $21,439 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $43,714. That is a strong return on a $21,439 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $17,485 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $25,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,485 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #20 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $13,486 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $40,253 early in their careers. Set against $13,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #21 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,045. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $48,061. Set against $15,045 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #22 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $25,625 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,955 early in their careers. Set against $25,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Oglala Lakota College came in at #23 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kyle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,684. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,517 ten years after entry.
San Francisco State University earned the #24 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,875 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $31,001 early in their careers. Set against $17,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego landed the #25 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $12,485 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $30,984. Set against $12,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% 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:
Other Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 136 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 136 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.
