2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for value in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,475 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $57,403. Set against $14,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical student debt for value graduates is $8,794. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $30,111. Set against $8,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Delaware County Community College, which ranked #3. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $40,102 early in their careers. Set against $14,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Farmingdale State College earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. Value graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Value graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $38,789 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Onondaga Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,623. Early-career value graduates make about $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Empire State College placed #6 among the best values for value. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,693. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
University Of Baltimore earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Typical student debt for value graduates is $29,681. Early-career value graduates make about $58,511. Set against $29,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Value graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870. Value graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $52,887. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #10 among the best values for value. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,721 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $43,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred admits about 76% of applicants.
Herkimer County Community College landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Herkimer. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Herkimer County Community College earn a median of $31,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,742, compared with $15,769 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,640. Value graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Canton earn a median of $46,515 early in their careers. Set against $23,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Salisbury University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,084, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,545. Value graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $45,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,035, with out-of-state students paying around $18,945. Value graduates carry a median of $24,217 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $38,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants.
Towson University came in at #15 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,241. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $52,989. Set against $21,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs College New York earned the #16 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,550. Students borrow a median of $25,485 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $49,214. Set against $25,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Josephs College New York admits about 72% of applicants.
Cedar Crest College earned the #17 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,314. Value graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $67,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Waynesburg University placed #18 among the best values for value. Set in the town of Waynesburg, Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Waynesburg University generally make around $55,588. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Utica College placed #19 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,930 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,237. Value graduates of Utica College earn a median of $69,701 early in their careers. Set against $27,237 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Mercyhurst College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,770. Students borrow a median of $25,705 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Mercyhurst College generally make around $46,009. That is a strong return on a $25,705 median debt. Mercyhurst College admits about 81% of applicants.
Rowan University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $52,031. Set against $24,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Carlow University placed #22 among the best values for value. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $35,874. Value graduates carry a median of $30,222 in student loans. Value graduates of Carlow University earn a median of $59,754 early in their careers. Set against $30,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College placed #23 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Students borrow a median of $29,200 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $74,688. That is a strong return on a $29,200 median debt.
Gannon University earned the #24 position for value in value this year. Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Gannon University generally make around $73,658. That is a strong return on a $26,934 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Robert Morris University came in at #25 for value in value this year. Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moon Township. Students from in state pay about $35,770 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Robert Morris University generally make around $69,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rest of the Top 37 Best Value Value Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for value this year:
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 37 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.
