2027 Best Value Ethics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Ethics](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/ethics/) 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for ethics students.
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2027 Best Value Ethics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ethics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Ethics Schools
Utah Valley University tops our 2027 list of the best value ethics schools in the United States. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $15,636. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value ethics schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Ethics graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $42,072. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for ethics. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the ethics program here. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $40,286. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nevada Reno earned it the #4 place for ethics. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $18,500. Early-career ethics graduates make about $50,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value ethics schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $25,000. Early-career ethics graduates make about $29,251. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Harvard University placed #6 among the best values for ethics. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Ethics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Ethics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Oregon State University placed #7 among the best values for ethics. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Ethics graduates carry a median of $24,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $51,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Yale University placed #8 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the ethics program here. Early-career ethics graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Temple University placed #9 among the best values for ethics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of Temple University earn a median of $28,648 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Whitman College placed #10 among the best values for ethics. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,050. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of Whitman College earn a median of $32,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value ethics schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Ethics graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
American University came in at #12 for value in ethics this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $24,139. Early-career ethics graduates make about $58,030. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Fordham University earned the #13 position for value in ethics this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Ethics graduates carry a median of $22,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Set against $22,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Other Ethics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value ethics schools at other degree levels:
View All Ethics Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
