by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/forensic-science-and-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Lasell College this year. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,040. Value graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans. Value graduates of Lasell College earn a median of $49,793 early in their careers. Set against $26,808 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lasell College admits about 81% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Value graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Value graduates of Boston University earn a median of $57,616 early in their careers. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Haven earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $47,091. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #4 makes Roger Williams University one of the best values for value. Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bristol. Students from in state pay about $45,197 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Roger Williams University generally make around $48,664. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.