2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/medical-health-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is Montclair State University, our #1 best value for value in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Value graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. Value graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $44,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Value graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $87,308. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,259. Value graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $60,865. Set against $21,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
