2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
Cuny City College earned the #1 spot for value among sustainability science schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $70,051. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for sustainability science. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,836. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #3 place for sustainability science. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $84,850. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #4 makes Montclair State University one of the best values for sustainability science. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete the sustainability science program here. Sustainability Science graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $41,445 early in their careers. Set against $25,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,999, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,976. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $37,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Stony Brook University landed the #6 spot for sustainability science value this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $60,047. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,070 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $70,213. Set against $18,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey landed the #8 spot for sustainability science value this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,266, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $43,490. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $25,120. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $65,944. Set against $25,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Allegheny College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,550. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $26,962 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Allegheny College earn a median of $34,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Wilkes University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,496. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $26,601. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $64,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Chatham University earned the #12 position for value in sustainability science this year. Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $45,001 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,261 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Chatham University generally make around $18,954. That is a strong return on a $24,261 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #13 spot for sustainability science value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $63,515. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $40,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #15 among the best values for sustainability science. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University placed #16 among the best values for sustainability science. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
New York University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $21,897. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College came in at #18 for value in sustainability science this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
Georgetown University landed the #19 spot for sustainability science value this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $16,483. Sustainability Science graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Stevens Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot for sustainability science value this year. Set in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,462. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $26,767. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $87,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Pratt Institute Main placed #21 among the best values for sustainability science. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $25,103. Sustainability Science graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $38,569 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,103 median debt. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
The New School came in at #22 for value in sustainability science this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,460 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from The New School generally make around $38,468. That is a strong return on a $24,460 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
[Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sustainability science education at a price that pays off.
