by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/cybersecurity-defense/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Boise State University, our #1 best value for value in Idaho. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,311. Early-career value graduates make about $49,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
This ranking is produced 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.