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.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Charter Oak State College this year. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,506. Value graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $62,864. That is a strong return on a $23,584 median debt.
University Of New Haven came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Value graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,615. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.