by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 396 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Columbia University in the City of New York tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $48-$75k) school in the Middle Atlantic Region for overall quality. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in New York, New York.
Columbia University in the City of New York has the honor of being ranked #1 in New York for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at Columbia University in the City of New York
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $3,300.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list means Johns Hopkins University is a great place for students working on their degree. Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Johns Hopkins University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Maryland. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,586.
The quality degree programs at Cornell University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Ithaca, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cornell University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of New York. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,035.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list means Princeton University is a great place for students working on their degree. Princeton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Princeton University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,975.
Georgetown University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #6. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Georgetown University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in District of Columbia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,579.
With a ranking of #7, Dickinson College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Dickinson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Dickinson College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $3,884.
Swarthmore College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Swarthmore College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,560.
Montgomery College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Montgomery College is a public institution located in Rockville, Maryland.
Montgomery College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Maryland for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,942.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #10. John Jay is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York.
Not only is John Jay College of Criminal Justice a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in New York for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,970.
Read full value report on John Jay College of Criminal Justice
With a ranking of #11, Hunter College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Hunter is a public institution located in New York, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hunter College is ranked #23 for quality in the state of New York. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,892.
With a ranking of #12, Baruch College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This fairly large public school is located in New York, New York.
Not only is Baruch College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,689.
Fashion Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. FIT SUNY is a public institution located in New York, New York.
Not only is Fashion Institute of Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in New York for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,425.
With a ranking of #14, Queens College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. QC is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York.
Not only is Queens College a great value, but it is also ranked #31 in New York for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,120.
With a ranking of #15, University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the school is a fairly large public institution.
University of Maryland - Baltimore County has the honor of being ranked #4 in Maryland for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,298.
Frederick Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Frederick Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Frederick, Maryland.
Not only is Frederick Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Maryland for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,768.
The City College of New York ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is The City College of New York a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,588.
Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #18. This fairly large public school is located in Brooklyn, New York.
Not only is Brooklyn College a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in New York for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,748.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small public school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,977.
Learn More About Value at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Colgate University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Colgate is located in Hamilton, New York and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Colgate University has the honor of being ranked #5 in New York for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $15,344.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. West Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania has the honor of being ranked #14 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,386.
Learn More About Value at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
University of Maryland - College Park ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This large public school is located in College Park, Maryland.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Maryland - College Park is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Maryland. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,280.
Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Dover, Delaware, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Delaware Technical Community College - Terry is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Delaware. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $9,332.
Learn More About Value at Delaware Technical Community College - Terry
Suffolk County Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Selden, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Suffolk County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #54 in New York for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,560.
Chesapeake College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #25. Chesapeake College is a small public school situated in Wye Mills, Maryland.
Not only is Chesapeake College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Maryland for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,701.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | College of Southern Maryland | La Plata, MD | Value Report |
| 52 | Carroll Community College | Westminster, MD | Value Report |
| 53 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, NJ | Value Report |
| 54 | Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg, NJ | Value Report |
| 55 | Rutgers University - Newark | Newark, NJ | Value Report |
| 56 | Camden County College | Blackwood, NJ | Value Report |
| 57 | Rutgers University - Camden | Camden, NJ | Value Report |
| 58 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA | Value Report |
| 59 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA | Value Report |
| 60 | Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn, NY | Value Report |
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These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh, PA | Value Report |
| 62 | Clarks Summit University | Clarks Summit, PA | Value Report |
| 63 | Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing, NJ | Value Report |
| 64 | College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island, NY | Value Report |
| 65 | Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale, NY | Value Report |
| 66 | Orange County Community College | Middletown, NY | Value Report |
| 67 | Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell, PA | Value Report |
| 68 | SUNY Empire State College | Saratoga Springs, NY | Value Report |
| 69 | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ | Value Report |
| 70 | York College | Jamaica, NY | Value Report |
| 71 | SUNY Ulster | Stone Ridge, NY | Value Report |
| 72 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA | Value Report |
| 73 | Bucks County Community College | Newtown, PA | Value Report |
| 74 | County College of Morris | Randolph, NJ | Value Report |
| 75 | Erie Community College | Buffalo, NY | Value Report |
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Hudson County Community College | Jersey City, NJ | Value Report |
| 77 | Jamestown Business College | Jamestown, NY | Value Report |
| 78 | Wilmington University | New Castle, DE | Value Report |
| 79 | Niagara County Community College | Sanborn, NY | Value Report |
| 80 | Barnard College | New York, NY | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.