2026 Best Value Ethnic Studies Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Ethnic Studies certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 656 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Ethnic Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $21,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,403. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%. See the full University Of Missouri Columbia profile
Grand Valley State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Ethnic Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Allendale, MI. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $26,814 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,118. Set against $26,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%. Read more about Grand Valley State University
Out of the 656 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Madison, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $73,792. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #4 on this year's best-value Ethnic Studies ranking in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The University Of Texas At Austin Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $75,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $23,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,668. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. More on Arizona State University
Out of the 656 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Washington State University landed the #5 spot. Based in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. Median earnings reach $68,905 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,903 median debt. Washington State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. Read more about Washington State University
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #7 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $25,730 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee alumni report median earnings of $54,990 a decade after entry. Set against $25,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University Of Arizona landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $25,219. Median earnings reach $59,979 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $25,234. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,631 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst has an acceptance rate of 60%. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Coahoma Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. More on Coahoma Community College
Lehigh University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. See the full Lehigh University profile
Nevada State College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Nevada State College
University Of California Davis landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of California Davis report
The University Of Tennessee ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. More on The University Of Tennessee
University Of Connecticut placed #15 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Connecticut
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Read more about University Of South Florida Main Campus
Cuny Hunter College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Cuny Hunter College report
Oberlin College
Oberlin College landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oberlin College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Phoenix College
Bakersfield College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Bakersfield College report
Haverford College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Haverford College profile
Trinity College
Trinity College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Read more about Trinity College
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #23 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham report
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #24 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Illinois At Chicago
University Of Miami ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Get the full University Of Miami report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Ethnic Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Vanderbilt University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Vanderbilt University
Antioch College
Antioch College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Antioch College
Columbia College Chicago offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Columbia College Chicago
Cuny Lehman College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Cuny Lehman College report
Eastern Washington University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Loyola Marymount University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Loyola Marymount University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Quinsigamond Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on Quinsigamond Community College
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Get the full Illinois Wesleyan University report
John Carroll University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full John Carroll University report
Monroe Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. See the full Monroe Community College profile
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Get the full University Of California Santa Barbara report
Santa Monica College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on Santa Monica College
Chicago State University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Read the full report on Chicago State University
Kentucky State University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Kentucky State University
Oglala Lakota College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oglala Lakota College
Scottsdale Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Ethnic Studies schools. Read the full report on Scottsdale Community College
The New School
The New School placed #44 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. More on The New School
University Of Washington Bothell Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on University Of Washington Bothell Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #46 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Case Western Reserve University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Case Western Reserve University
Minot State University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Minot State University report
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Rio Hondo College placed #50 among the best-value Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Rio Hondo College report
Related Ethnic Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Ethnic Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 656 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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