2026 Best Value Archeology Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Archeology doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 84 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Archeology Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found University Of California Los Angeles to be the best-value Archeology school in the United States. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. University Of California Los Angeles Archeology students take on a median of $16,097 in debt. University Of California Los Angeles alumni report median earnings of $82,511 a decade after entry. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 9% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
Out of the 84 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Pennsylvania landed the #2 spot. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Median earnings reach $111,371 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical Archeology student debt is $21,818. Median earnings reach $63,403 ten years out. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
You'll get strong value at Brown University, which ranked #4 this year. Brown University is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $93,487 ten years after entry. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%. Read more about Brown University
Out of the 84 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Boston University landed the #5 spot. Set in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete their Archeology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,238 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants. Read more about Boston University
Michigan Technological University placed #6 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. See the full Michigan Technological University profile
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Wheaton College Illinois
University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Parkside
Weber State University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Read more about Weber State University
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #10 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Boston report
Northwest College placed #11 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. More on Northwest College
Southern Adventist University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Read the full report on Southern Adventist University
Harvard University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read more about Harvard University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center report
Saint Marys College Of California offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Saint Marys College Of California
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
The College Of Wooster placed #17 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full The College Of Wooster report
Hamilton College
Hamilton College placed #18 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Hamilton College report
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of California Santa Cruz
Columbia College Sonora offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Columbia College Sonora
Washington University In St Louis ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. More on Washington University In St Louis
Moorpark College
Moorpark College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Moorpark College
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read more about Brigham Young University Provo
Santa Monica College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. See the full Santa Monica College profile
Monmouth University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Monmouth University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Archeology Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Vermont Technical College placed #26 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Vermont Technical College
Coastal Carolina University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Coastal Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Eastern Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Eastern Washington University profile
Stanford University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stanford University report
Cornell University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. More on Cornell University
Cypress College
Cypress College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Cypress College profile
University Of Evansville landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Evansville
Sweet Briar College placed #34 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Sweet Briar College
Yale University
Yale University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Yale University
Western Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Western Washington University
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean placed #38 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean
Suny College At Cortland came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Suny College At Cortland
University Of Southern California came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Swarthmore College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Swarthmore College
Willamette University placed #42 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Willamette University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Wesleyan University
Capital Community College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Capital Community College report
Johns Hopkins University placed #46 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. More on Johns Hopkins University
Austin Community College District offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Austin Community College District
Dickinson College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Get the full Dickinson College report
Palomar College
Palomar College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. See the full Palomar College profile
University Of Arizona ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
Related Archeology Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Archeology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Archeology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Archeology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Archeology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Archeology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Archeology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Archeology Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 84 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).