2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/geography-and-environmental-studies/general/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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
For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Maryland Baltimore County this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,331 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the best values for value. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
