by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/cybersecurity-defense/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Leading the list is Suny Empire State College, our #1 best value for value in New York. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,693. Early-career value graduates make about $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hilbert College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Hilbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamburg. In-state tuition and fees average $33,740. Value graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Value graduates of Hilbert College earn a median of $41,196 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The ranking above is published 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.