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

[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.
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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
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.
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%.
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.
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%.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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:
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.
- 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.