College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Master’s Degree Schools

22 Colleges in the United States
$19,716 Avg Student Debt
$81,191 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Master's Degree Badge [Development Economics & International Development](/majors/social-sciences/economics/development-economics-and-international-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for development economics & international development students.

What’s on this page:

2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in development economics & international development, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools

1

Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 best value for development economics & international development in the United States. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $24,323. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for development economics & international development. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $15,000. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $62,091. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #3 place for development economics & international development. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.

4
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $12,500. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $100,827. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.

5
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Students looking for strong value in development economics & international development will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $24,700 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $59,187 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.

6
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $77,997. Set against $12,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.

7

New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in development economics & international development this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $41,860. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Development Economics & International Development graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $73,951 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.

9
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College landed the #9 spot for development economics & international development value this year. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,560. Students borrow a median of $12,925 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $80,888. Set against $12,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.

10

University Of Arizona placed #10 among the best values for development economics & international development. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $19,610 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $19,610 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.

11

Ohio University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $85,818. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

12
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value development economics & international development schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $24,500. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.

13
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University placed #13 among the best values for development economics & international development. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

14

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #14 spot for development economics & international development value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $56,261 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

15

Cornell University came in at #15 for value in development economics & international development this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $15,500. Development Economics & International Development graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.

16

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #16 position for value in development economics & international development this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $25,782 in student loans. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $50,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.

17

Northeastern University placed #17 among the best values for development economics & international development. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $70,531. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.

18

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in development economics & international development this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $25,000. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $55,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.

19

Brandeis University earned the #19 position for value in development economics & international development this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $25,295. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $69,189. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.

20

University Of Denver landed the #20 spot for development economics & international development value this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Typical student debt for development economics & international development graduates is $22,534. Development Economics & International Development graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $60,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

21
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University came in at #21 for value in development economics & international development this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $79,324. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.

22
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University landed the #22 spot for development economics & international development value this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Development Economics & International Development graduates of American University earn a median of $86,903 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.

Other Development Economics & International Development Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Development Economics & International Development rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Development Economics & International Development
Bachelor's Degrees in Development Economics & International Development

View All Development Economics & International Development Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 22 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options