2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,691. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $61,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Value graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Peters College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. In-state tuition and fees average $42,552. Students borrow a median of $22,969 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $50,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland University College one of the best values for value. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Value graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $65,890 early in their careers. Set against $23,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilmington University came in at #6 for value in value this year. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,630. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,054. Early-career value graduates make about $57,142. Set against $26,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Delaware placed #7 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,861. Value graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #8 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,257 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #9 for value in value this year. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,035, compared with $18,945 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,217 in student loans. Value graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #11 for value in value this year. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,530. Early-career value graduates make about $41,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey landed the #12 spot for value value this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,266, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. Value graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $43,490. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
La Salle University landed the #13 spot for value value this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,800. Value graduates carry a median of $25,462 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $54,618. That is a strong return on a $25,462 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Long Island University C W Post Campus placed #14 among the best values for value. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Value graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Value graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $61,547 early in their careers. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Long Island University C W Post Campus admits about 86% of applicants.
Manhattan College came in at #15 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,400 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans. Value graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of $61,065 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern University came in at #16 for value in value 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. Typical student debt for value graduates is $28,584. Early-career value graduates make about $50,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Saint Bonaventure University placed #17 among the best values for value. Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Bonaventure. Students from in state pay about $41,735 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,917 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Saint Bonaventure University generally make around $43,190. Set against $25,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $63,515. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #19 position for value in value this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University landed the #20 spot for value value this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Students borrow a median of $23,422 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $63,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #21 among the best values for value. 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 value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York earned the #22 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $25,670 in student loans. Value graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $59,662 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #23 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Dickinson College earned the #24 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,650. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $39,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dickinson College admits about 42% of applicants.
Siena College earned the #25 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,805 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,656. Value graduates of Siena College earn a median of $44,535 early in their careers. Set against $26,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Value Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value value ranking:
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 72 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
