by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking is part of that endeavor. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 400 schools across the Middle Atlantic Region to determine which have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year’s ranking. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Not only is University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Pennsylvania for overall quality.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list means Columbia University in the City of New York is a great place for students working on their degree. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in New York, New York.
Not only is Columbia University in the City of New York a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in New York for overall quality.
Learn More About Value at Columbia University in the City of New York
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Johns Hopkins University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Maryland.
The quality degree programs at Cornell University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cornell University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of New York. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,953.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Georgetown is located in Washington, District of Columbia and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Georgetown University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of District of Columbia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,182.
Princeton University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Princeton, New Jersey.
Not only is Princeton University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in New Jersey for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,544.
Dickinson College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Dickinson College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,451.
Baruch College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Baruch is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York.
Baruch College has the honor of being ranked #25 in New York for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,040.
Hunter College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York.
Not only is Hunter College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,350.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in New York, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, John Jay College of Criminal Justice is ranked #19 for quality in the state of New York. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,824.
Learn More About Value at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #11. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a fairly large public school located in Baltimore, Maryland.
University of Maryland - Baltimore County has the honor of being ranked #4 in Maryland for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,771.
Learn More About Value at University of Maryland - Baltimore County
University of Maryland - College Park ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. UMCP is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Maryland - College Park is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Maryland. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,357.
Learn More About Value at University of Maryland - College Park
Fashion Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. FIT SUNY is a public institution located in New York, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fashion Institute of Technology is ranked #6 for quality in the state of New York. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,133.
Queens College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Queens, New York.
Queens College has the honor of being ranked #31 in New York for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,779.
The City College of New York ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. CCNY is a public institution located in New York, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The City College of New York is ranked #45 for quality in the state of New York. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,046.
Montgomery College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Rockville, Maryland.
Montgomery College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Maryland for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,281.
The College of New Jersey ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Ewing, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is The College of New Jersey a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in New Jersey for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,972.
With a ranking of #18, Brooklyn College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Brooklyn, New York.
Not only is Brooklyn College a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,542.
Hamilton College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Hamilton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clinton, New York.
Not only is Hamilton College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,702.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the school is a large public institution.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick has the honor of being ranked #3 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,637.
Learn More About Value at Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Frederick Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Frederick Community College is located in Frederick, Maryland and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Frederick Community College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Maryland for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,855.
George Washington University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #22. GWU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia.
Not only is George Washington University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in District of Columbia for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,510.
With a ranking of #23, Swarthmore College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Swarthmore is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Swarthmore College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,885.
With a ranking of #24, Haverford College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Haverford, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Haverford College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,200.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a small public school situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,435.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Bronx Community College | Bronx, NY | Value Report |
| 52 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE | Value Report |
| 53 | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ | Value Report |
| 54 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA | Value Report |
| 54 | Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore, MD | Value Report |
| 56 | College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island, NY | Value Report |
| 57 | Camden County College | Blackwood, NJ | Value Report |
| 58 | Rutgers University - Camden | Camden, NJ | Value Report |
| 59 | Orange County Community College | Middletown, NY | Value Report |
| 59 | College of Southern Maryland | La Plata, MD | Value Report |
| 61 | Carroll Community College | Westminster, MD | Value Report |
All Majors and Fields of Study >
These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | York College | Jamaica, NY | Value Report |
| 63 | Washington College | Chestertown, MD | Value Report |
| 64 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA | Value Report |
| 65 | Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn, NY | Value Report |
| 66 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | Value Report |
| 67 | Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg, NJ | Value Report |
| 68 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | Value Report |
| 69 | St Mary’s College of Maryland | St. Mary’s City, MD | Value Report |
| 70 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck, NJ | Value Report |
| 71 | SUNY Ulster | Stone Ridge, NY | Value Report |
| 71 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA | Value Report |
| 73 | Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY | Value Report |
| 74 | Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh, PA | Value Report |
| 75 | Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland, MD | Value Report |
| 76 | Monroe Community College | Rochester, NY | Value Report |
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | Harford Community College | Bel Air, MD | Value Report |
| 78 | Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell, PA | Value Report |
| 79 | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | Value Report |
| 80 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | Value Report |
| 81 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah, NJ | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.