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2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in District of Columbia

[Development Economics & International Development](/majors/social-sciences/economics/development-economics-and-international-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value development economics & international development schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in District of Columbia

2027 Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools in District of Columbia

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the development economics & international development degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Development Economics & International Development Schools

1

Georgetown University
Washington, DC

$68,089 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,500 Avg Student Debt

$103,494 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best value for a degree in development economics & international development in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Development Economics & International Development graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, development economics & international development degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $81,892. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.

2

American University
Washington, DC

$58,771 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,625 Avg Student Debt

$77,370 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes American University one of the best values for development economics & international development. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the development economics & international development program here. Early-career development economics & international development graduates make about $72,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. American University admits about 62% of applicants.

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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.