2026 Best Value Archeology Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Archeology master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 84 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 reviewed schools to build 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 best-value Archeology school in the United States. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Typical Archeology student debt is $15,005. Median earnings reach $104,043 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Cornell University has an acceptance rate of 9%. Read more about Cornell University
You'll get strong value at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #2 this year. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. The median Archeology program debt is $20,031. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,511. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%. Read more about University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values in the United States. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. University Of Washington Seattle Campus Archeology students take on a median of $16,481 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,466 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Out of the 84 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical Archeology student debt is $16,155. Median earnings reach $111,371 ten years out. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate of 5%. Read more about University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. The median Archeology program debt is $21,818. University Of Missouri Columbia alumni report median earnings of $63,403 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Indiana, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical Archeology student debt is $26,513. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,019. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted. More on Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #8 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,865 ten years after entry. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants. See the full University Of Massachusetts Boston profile
Boston University placed #9 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Located in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete their Archeology program here. Boston University alumni report median earnings of $83,238 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University has an acceptance rate of 11%. Read the full report on Boston University
University Of Rio Grande landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Rio Grande report
Monmouth University placed #11 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Monmouth University
Suny College At Cortland landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suny College At Cortland
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Cuny Brooklyn College
Santa Monica College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Santa Monica College profile
Yale University
Yale University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read the full report on Yale University
Haverford College placed #16 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Haverford College report
Moorpark College
Moorpark College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Moorpark College report
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bowdoin College
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #19 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
George Washington University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full George Washington University report
Columbia College Sonora ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read the full report on Columbia College Sonora
Tufts University
Tufts University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Tufts University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Lipscomb University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. See the full Lipscomb University profile
Cuny Hunter College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. More on Cuny Hunter College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Archeology Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Carnegie Mellon University placed #26 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Southern California ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Suny College At Potsdam offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Suny College At Potsdam
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #29 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Harvard University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Harvard University profile
University Of Akron Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on University Of Akron Main Campus
Mercyhurst College placed #32 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Read more about Mercyhurst College
University Of Wisconsin Parkside offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full University Of Wisconsin Parkside profile
Wesleyan University placed #34 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. More on Wesleyan University
Michigan Technological University placed #35 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
University Of Indianapolis offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full University Of Indianapolis profile
Austin Community College District landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Austin Community College District profile
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Fresno City College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full Fresno City College report
Brigham Young University Provo placed #40 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Brigham Young University Provo report
New York University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on New York University
Western Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Western Washington University
Normandale Community College placed #43 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. See the full Normandale Community College profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #44 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Dickinson College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Dickinson College report
Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Archeology schools. Read the full report on Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean
Oberlin College
Oberlin College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Oberlin College report
The College Of Wooster placed #48 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. More on The College Of Wooster
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
Hamilton College
Hamilton College placed #50 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Hamilton College report
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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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 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).