[Dispute Resolution](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/dispute-resolution/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dispute resolution education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for dispute resolution students.
Finding the Best Value Dispute Resolution School for You
The dispute resolution program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Dispute Resolution Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Dispute Resolution Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice tops our 2027 list of the best value dispute resolution schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,678 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $43,545. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dispute resolution, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #3 place for dispute resolution. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $41,622. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #4 place for dispute resolution. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value dispute resolution schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for dispute resolution graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Kansas State University earned the #6 position for value in dispute resolution this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Dispute Resolution graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #7 spot for dispute resolution value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $51,693. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 for value in dispute resolution this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $64,119. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Boise State University landed the #9 spot for dispute resolution value this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Dispute Resolution graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value dispute resolution schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University placed #11 among the best values for dispute resolution. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $84,585. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #12 among the best values for dispute resolution. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Dispute Resolution graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $72,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Walden University came in at #13 for value in dispute resolution this year. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,067. Typical student debt for dispute resolution graduates is $49,361. Soon after graduation, dispute resolution degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $65,192. Set against $49,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Syracuse University came in at #14 for value in dispute resolution this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for dispute resolution graduates is $26,130. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $54,785. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Yeshiva University placed #15 among the best values for dispute resolution. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Early-career dispute resolution graduates make about $52,838. That is a strong return on a $20,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Pepperdine University earned the #16 position for value in dispute resolution this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,918. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete the dispute resolution program here. Dispute Resolution graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $64,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,645 median debt. Pepperdine University admits about 63% of applicants.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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).
[Dispute Resolution](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/dispute-resolution/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dispute resolution education at a price that pays off.
