by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethics](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/ethics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ethics education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for ethics students.
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The ethics program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Ethics Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Ethics Schools list, to help you choose. 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.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the ethics degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in ethics, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $15,636. Ethics graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in ethics will find it at University Of Wisconsin Superior, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,726. Ethics graduates carry a median of $27,845 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior generally make around $45,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ethics will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the ethics program here. Early-career ethics graduates make about $42,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Arizona State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value ethics schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $26,250. Early-career ethics graduates make about $40,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Reno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethics, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Ethics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $50,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #6 spot for ethics value this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $29,251 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County landed the #7 spot for ethics value this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $21,331. Early-career ethics graduates make about $49,179. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University placed #8 among the best values for ethics. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Ethics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Ethics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University came in at #9 for value in ethics this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Ethics graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University came in at #10 for value in ethics this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for ethics graduates is $24,041. Early-career ethics graduates make about $51,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University landed the #11 spot for ethics value this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Ethics graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Ethics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University placed #12 among the best values for ethics. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Ethics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career ethics graduates make about $28,648. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Whitman College placed #13 among the best values for ethics. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,050. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the ethics program here. Ethics graduates of Whitman College earn a median of $32,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,518 median debt. Whitman College admits about 38% of applicants.
Syracuse University earned the #14 position for value in ethics this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Ethics graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Ethics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
American University placed #15 among the best values for ethics. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the ethics program here. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,030. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Fordham University landed the #16 spot for ethics value this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Students borrow a median of $22,999 to complete the ethics program here. Soon after graduation, ethics degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Ethics is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
This list is compiled 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.