by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/medicine/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for medicine students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in medicine, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 best value for medicine in the Middle Atlantic Region. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $13,426. Early-career medicine graduates make about $68,008. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medicine, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $74,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in medicine will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $20,537. Medicine graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $73,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $78,891. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medicine, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $24,488. Medicine graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $66,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,488 median debt. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $22,232. Early-career medicine graduates make about $64,438. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $25,120. Early-career medicine graduates make about $69,793. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #8 position for value in medicine this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Medicine graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans. Early-career medicine graduates make about $67,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Temple University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $26,259. Early-career medicine graduates make about $67,343. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #10 spot for medicine value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $67,571. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Rochester landed the #11 spot for medicine value this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $67,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for medicine value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $71,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #14 position for value in medicine this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $21,897. Early-career medicine graduates make about $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Hofstra University landed the #15 spot for medicine value this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the medicine program here. Medicine graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $74,616 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University earned the #16 position for value in medicine this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $22,910. Early-career medicine graduates make about $68,275. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #17 among the best values for medicine. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $28,838. Medicine graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $68,085 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $16,483. Early-career medicine graduates make about $68,568. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Howard University came in at #19 for value in medicine this year. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,810 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $25,498. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $66,233. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.