2026 Best Value Other Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Other Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other economics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 44 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other economics schools.
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2026 Best Value Other Economics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Economics Schools
For return on investment in other economics, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $15,000. Early-career other economics graduates make about $51,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for other economics. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $15,499. Other Economics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $24,700 to complete the other economics program here. Other Economics graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $59,187 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,700 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Riverside earned it the #4 place for other economics. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $37,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value other economics schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware landed the #6 spot for other economics value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $25,261 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $55,905. That is a strong return on a $25,261 median debt. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
George Mason University landed the #7 spot for other economics value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Other Economics graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $53,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Maine came in at #8 for value in other economics this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Students borrow a median of $22,984 to complete the other economics program here. Other Economics graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $22,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #9 among the best values for other economics. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the other economics program here. Early-career other economics graduates make about $50,873. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Canisius College earned the #10 position for value in other economics this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,200 in tuition and fees. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Other Economics graduates of Canisius College earn a median of $55,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suny At Albany placed #11 among the best values for other economics. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $24,474. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. Set against $24,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Western Washington University came in at #12 for value in other economics this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $45,401. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University At Buffalo earned the #13 position for value in other economics this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $20,225 to complete the other economics program here. Early-career other economics graduates make about $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #14 for value in other economics this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $24,250. Early-career other economics graduates make about $54,013. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Vermont came in at #15 for value in other economics this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $23,875 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $44,588. That is a strong return on a $23,875 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Centre College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value other economics schools. Set in the town of Danville, Centre College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,820. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $51,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Whitworth University placed #17 among the best values for other economics. Whitworth University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spokane. Students from in state pay about $52,880 in tuition and fees. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $26,051 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from Whitworth University generally make around $47,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dallas came in at #18 for value in other economics this year. University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irving. In-state tuition and fees average $53,930. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $24,752. Other Economics graduates of University Of Dallas earn a median of $55,732 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,752 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value other economics schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $63,598. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #20 for value in other economics this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for other economics graduates is $24,250. Early-career other economics graduates make about $48,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Drake University came in at #21 for value in other economics this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the other economics program here. Early-career other economics graduates make about $56,228. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado College placed #22 among the best values for other economics. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the other economics program here. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $58,082. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Whitman College came in at #23 for value in other economics this year. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,050. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $46,832. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College earned the #24 position for value in other economics this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the other economics program here. Other Economics graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $85,860 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
American University earned the #25 position for value in other economics this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,151. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Other Other Economics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Economics rankings across degree levels:
View All Other Economics Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
