by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Rice University the best value for a degree in value in Texas. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Texas one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Value graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Houston Downtown is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,925. Value graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. Set against $23,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Dallas earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,531. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $58,507. Set against $20,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the best values for value. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Value graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #7 for value in value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,031. Early-career value graduates make about $64,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,712. Value graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
Baylor University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,928. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.