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2026 Best Value Archeology Master's Degree Schools

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:

#1

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

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

#5

University Of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

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

#9

Boston University

Boston, MA

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 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 came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Moorpark College report

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 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 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 placed #50 among the best-value Archeology schools in the United States. Get the full Hamilton College report

Compare value rankings at other degree levels:

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

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