2026 Best Value Applied Statistics Schools
Looking for the best-value Applied Statistics programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 36 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 help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 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 Applied Statistics Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Michigan Technological University tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Applied Statistics programs schools in the United States. Located in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete their Applied Statistics program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,198. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University has an acceptance rate of 92%. Read the full report on Michigan Technological University
You'll get strong value at Bowling Green State University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Median earnings reach $47,896 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,449 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants. See the full Bowling Green State University Main Campus profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Villanova University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Villanova University Applied Statistics students take on a median of $26,184 in debt. Villanova University alumni report median earnings of $100,423 a decade after entry. Set against $26,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University has an acceptance rate of 27%. Read more about Villanova University
You'll get strong value at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #4 this year. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public school based in La Crosse, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete their Applied Statistics program here. Median earnings reach $60,378 ten years out. Set against $23,551 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Wisconsin La Crosse profile
Marquette University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Applied Statistics ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Milwaukee, WI. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. The median Applied Statistics program debt is $24,122. Median earnings reach $78,257 ten years out. Set against $24,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants. Get the full Marquette University report
Depaul University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. Set in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical Applied Statistics student debt is $25,310. Median earnings reach $68,751 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants. More on Depaul University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $81,698. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Kansas ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $61,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%. More on University Of Kansas
Colorado State University Fort Collins offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,543 ten years after entry. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Typical Applied Statistics student debt is $24,472. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,177. That is a strong return on a $24,472 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
The University Of Alabama landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete their Applied Statistics program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,221. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%. Read more about The University Of Alabama
University Of Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete their Applied Statistics program here. University Of Kentucky alumni report median earnings of $59,025 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants. More on University Of Kentucky
The University Of Texas At San Antonio offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Set in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. The median Applied Statistics program debt is $23,312. The University Of Texas At San Antonio alumni report median earnings of $57,131 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Portland State University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,906 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Portland State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor alumni report median earnings of $83,648 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. The median Applied Statistics program debt is $27,491. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $76,571. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants. Get the full Rochester Institute Of Technology report
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Suny At Albany
University Of North Dakota placed #18 among the best-value Applied Statistics schools in the United States. Read more about University Of North Dakota
California Baptist University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full California Baptist University profile
Cornell College
Cornell College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. See the full Cornell College profile
Claremont Graduate University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Claremont Graduate University profile
Baylor University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. See the full Baylor University profile
Eastern Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Eastern Michigan University report
Suny College At Buffalo ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. Read the full report on Suny College At Buffalo
Northern Arizona University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Northern Arizona University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Applied Statistics Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Harvard University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Harvard University report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Houston Downtown
University Of South Alabama came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
Wake Forest University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. Get the full Wake Forest University report
Brigham Young University Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Brigham Young University Idaho
University Of Delaware ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. Read more about University Of Delaware
Dartmouth College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Dartmouth College profile
Johns Hopkins University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Applied Statistics schools. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Arizona State University Skysong
Cleveland State University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Cleveland State University
Best Value Applied Statistics Schools by Degree Level
Explore value rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Value Applied Statistics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Applied Statistics Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (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 36 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).