2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value applied economics schools.
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2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Leading the list is Farmingdale State College, our #1 best value for applied economics in the Middle Atlantic Region. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. In-state tuition and fees average $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $19,528 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $50,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University At Buffalo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $20,225 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $52,403. That is a strong return on a $20,225 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in applied economics will find it at Suny College At Buffalo, which ranked #3. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $41,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,919 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,502 early in their careers. Set against $19,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ursinus College earned it the #5 place for applied economics. Set in the suburb of Collegeville, Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,061. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of Ursinus College earn a median of $52,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #6 position for value in applied economics this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $22,020 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University placed #7 among the best values for applied economics. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $81,892 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
