by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Miami Dade College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Florida. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Value graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Value graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Florida Polytechnic University one of the best values for value. Located in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. Value graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Florida Polytechnic University generally make around $64,823. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #5 place for value. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Broward College earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,830, with out-of-state students paying around $8,952. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,110. Value graduates of Broward College earn a median of $51,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,110 median debt.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,074 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,845. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach generally make around $70,246. That is a strong return on a $22,845 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach admits about 65% of applicants.
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.