2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/nursing-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat Suny Empire State College this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome one of the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,625 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,215 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,056 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $56,541. Set against $21,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Mercy College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,880. Value graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $140,982. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The District Of Columbia earned it the #4 place for value. University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,662, compared with $12,514 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,475 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $75,609. That is a strong return on a $21,475 median debt.
Wilmington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,630 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,054. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Wilmington University generally make around $57,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stony Brook University came in at #6 for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,537. Value graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $115,213 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Value graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $48,647. Set against $20,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi admits about 89% of applicants.
Carlow University earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,874. Value graduates carry a median of $30,222 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $96,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #9 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,517. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $91,393. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #10 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Duquesne University came in at #11 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Value graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $54,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
New York University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Value graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $64,516. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Swedish Institute A College Of Health Sciences earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of New York, Swedish Institute A College Of Health Sciences is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,079 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $24,013 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $44,159. That is a strong return on a $24,013 median debt.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
