2026 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in Maryland
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in Maryland
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland University College the best value for a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies in Maryland. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $48,650. That is a strong return on a $23,276 median debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $52,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $25,545. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Towson University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $32,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
