2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in behavioral science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Behavioral Science Schools
For return on investment in behavioral science, no school beat New Jersey Institute Of Technology this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for behavioral science. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $12,375. Behavioral Science graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Baltimore came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the behavioral science program here. Behavioral Science graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $56,837 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned it the #4 place for behavioral science. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $21,331. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Daemen College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in behavioral science, landing the #5 spot this year. Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,218. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Daemen College generally make around $63,542. That is a strong return on a $28,358 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Saint Francis University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Loretto. Students from in state pay about $26,388 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $47,439. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Saint Francis University generally make around $63,097. That is a strong return on a $47,439 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University landed the #7 spot for behavioral science value this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $24,488. Behavioral Science graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $68,802 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,488 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Elizabethtown College came in at #8 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,950. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $26,599. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $57,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #9 for value in behavioral science this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $82,577. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University landed the #10 spot for behavioral science value this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $24,848. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $55,705. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
[Behavioral Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/behavioral-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong behavioral science education at a price that pays off.
