by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, no school beat Haskell Indian Nations University 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. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Oglala Lakota College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,684. Median earnings reach $22,517 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Grinnell College one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,196 in tuition and fees. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,154 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $38,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $21,964. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $33,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $23,608. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #6 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $24,624. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $41,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #7 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $24,585. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $53,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #8 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $23,988 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $39,147. Set against $23,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #9 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $29,562 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $26,197. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $44,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Iowa ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $26,952. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $22,559. Set against $26,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.