2026 Best Value General Master’s Degree Schools
[General](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 153 schools to find the best return on investment for general students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, our #1 best value for general in the United States. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Typical student debt for general graduates is $11,691. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $61,459. Set against $11,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned it the #2 place for general. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,181. Early-career general graduates make about $50,039. That is a strong return on a $21,181 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Mississippi Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,444. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Arlington earned it the #5 place for general. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for general graduates is $21,632. General graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $55,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of North Texas earned the #6 position for value in general this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. General graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #7 for value in general this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, while out-of-state students pay about $17,434. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,925. General graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston Downtown admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #8 for value in general this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for general graduates is $26,657. General graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Chicago ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. General graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #10 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. General graduates carry a median of $25,257 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global came in at #11 for value in general this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. General graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,278. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Typical student debt for general graduates is $29,026. General graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #13 position for value in general this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,659. Early-career general graduates make about $47,456. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh earned the #14 position for value in general this year. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,217. General graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,217 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. General graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. General graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #16 spot for general value this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. General graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $54,669. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Franklin University landed the #17 spot for general value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Typical student debt for general graduates is $35,890. General graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $57,471 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,890 median debt.
University Of Charleston came in at #18 for value in general this year. Set in the city of Charleston, University Of Charleston is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,617. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,646. General graduates of University Of Charleston earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Charleston admits about 62% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #19 position for value in general this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,432. General graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $61,547. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #20 among the best values for general. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. General graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. General graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern University earned the #21 position for value in general this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the general program here. General graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $50,474 early in their careers. Set against $28,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of La Verne placed #22 among the best values for general. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,470. General graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of La Verne admits about 71% of applicants.
Drake University placed #23 among the best values for general. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,273. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Lehigh University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,008. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value General Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general value ranking:
Other General Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General rankings across degree levels:
View All General Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 153 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
