# Most Affordable Master's Programs

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: Masters
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-masters

## Methodology

Master's-granting institutions ranked by net price and value

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

As we consider the rising costs of higher education, many students and families are looking for affordable master's programs that still deliver strong outcomes. This list highlights 50 institutions known for their commitment to providing quality education at a manageable price point.

The schools on this list excel in key areas like earnings potential, graduation rates, and manageable debt levels. For example, graduates from these institutions achieve average earnings of around $50,041, which is a crucial factor in determining the long-term value of a degree. As you explore the rankings below, keep in mind these essential metrics: high graduation rates may indicate a supportive environment, while lower debt levels can lead to greater financial flexibility after graduation.

Take CUNY Hunter College and CUNY Lehman College, for example. Hunter graduates earn an impressive $63,163 on average, yet with a slightly higher net price of $2,984 compared to Lehman’s $3,148. However, Lehman has a lower graduation rate of 50%, which may raise questions about program support. These contrasts highlight the importance of evaluating each school not just on cost, but on the outcomes they provide.

## Key Findings

- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates earn an average of $75,971, which is $25,930 more than the average earnings in this list.
- The average net price for these programs is $3,045, significantly lower than the national average for master's programs.
- CUNY Hunter College has a graduation rate of 59%, higher than the average of 45% for the schools listed.
- Students from these programs graduate with an average debt of $11,000, which is manageable compared to national averages.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hunter-college) | New York, NY | 59% | $63,163 | $2,984 | $11,000 | 0.17x |
| 2 | [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college) | New York, NY | 72% | $75,971 | $3,033 | $11,512 | 0.15x |
| 3 | [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 55% | $60,752 | $3,103 | $11,000 | 0.18x |
| 4 | [CUNY Lehman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-lehman-college) | Bronx, NY | 50% | $58,013 | $3,148 | $10,950 | 0.19x |
| 5 | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice) | New York, NY | 56% | $56,195 | $3,203 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 6 | [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queens-college) | Queens, NY | 56% | $62,763 | $4,195 | $10,298 | 0.16x |
| 7 | [CUNY York College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-york-college) | Jamaica, NY | 31% | $56,945 | $4,456 | $11,000 | 0.19x |
| 8 | [Texas A & M International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-a-m-international-university) | Laredo, TX | 48% | $48,386 | $3,637 | $15,000 | 0.31x |
| 9 | [CUNY City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-city-college) | New York, NY | 56% | $66,039 | $3,776 | $11,990 | 0.18x |
| 10 | [Indiana University-Kokomo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-kokomo) | Kokomo, IN | 45% | $49,917 | $3,968 | $16,961 | 0.34x |
| 11 | [St Petersburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-petersburg-college) | St. Petersburg, FL | 38% | $42,557 | $1,471 | $16,868 | 0.4x |
| 12 | [Alpena Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alpena-community-college) | Alpena, MI | 51% | $36,442 | $3,320 | $9,024 | 0.25x |
| 13 | [University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida) | Gainesville, FL | 91% | $71,588 | $6,541 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 14 | [Princeton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/princeton-university) | Princeton, NJ | 97% | $110,066 | $6,128 | $10,320 | 0.09x |
| 15 | [College of the Mainland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-mainland) | Texas City, TX | 30% | $39,639 | $1,342 | $5,960 | 0.15x |
| 16 | [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-medgar-evers-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 21% | $46,498 | $5,718 | $10,988 | 0.24x |
| 17 | [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley) | Edinburg, TX | 50% | $49,620 | $4,831 | $12,950 | 0.26x |
| 18 | [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus) | Portales, NM | 42% | $38,550 | $4,904 | $16,500 | 0.43x |
| 19 | [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-los-angeles) | Los Angeles, CA | 53% | $59,211 | $3,967 | $13,000 | 0.22x |
| 20 | [Shasta College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shasta-college) | Redding, CA | 26% | $39,269 | $2,878 | $14,250 | 0.36x |
| 21 | [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology) | Brooklyn, NY | 20% | $49,365 | $5,127 | $10,533 | 0.21x |
| 22 | [Indiana University-Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-northwest) | Gary, IN | 37% | $43,361 | $5,130 | $21,710 | 0.5x |
| 23 | [Elizabeth City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabeth-city-state-university) | Elizabeth City, NC | 46% | $40,026 | $6,364 | $21,463 | 0.54x |
| 24 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 25 | [Dallas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dallas-college) | Dallas, TX | 34% | $41,714 | $3,214 | $9,500 | 0.23x |
| 26 | [University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-science-and-arts-of-oklahoma) | Chickasha, OK | 41% | $41,913 | $6,624 | $21,750 | 0.52x |
| 27 | [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-san-bernardino) | San Bernardino, CA | 55% | $59,977 | $4,564 | $14,715 | 0.25x |
| 28 | [Santa Monica College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/santa-monica-college) | Santa Monica, CA | 36% | $42,193 | $2,779 | $6,450 | 0.15x |
| 29 | [College of Staten Island CUNY](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-staten-island-cuny) | Staten Island, NY | 33% | $53,501 | $5,579 | $14,350 | 0.27x |
| 30 | [North Central State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-state-college) | Mansfield, OH | 35% | $38,158 | $4,687 | $8,252 | 0.22x |
| 31 | [Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/abraham-baldwin-agricultural-college) | Tifton, GA | 33% | $34,996 | $6,842 | $16,750 | 0.48x |
| 32 | [West Virginia University at Parkersburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-virginia-university-at-parkersburg) | Parkersburg, WV | 20% | $35,171 | $1,807 | $12,570 | 0.36x |
| 33 | [Cincinnati State Technical and Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cincinnati-state-technical-and-community-college) | Cincinnati, OH | 18% | $40,137 | $4,968 | $14,715 | 0.37x |
| 34 | [Dalton State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dalton-state-college) | Dalton, GA | 28% | $40,251 | $5,012 | $12,937 | 0.32x |
| 35 | [Purdue University Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-northwest) | Hammond, IN | 43% | $48,318 | $6,079 | $21,229 | 0.44x |
| 36 | [Berea College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berea-college) | Berea, KY | 60% | $43,150 | $6,106 | $3,591 | 0.08x |
| 37 | [South Texas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-texas-college) | McAllen, TX | 27% | $36,788 | $1,751 | N/A | N/A |
| 38 | [Marshall University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marshall-university) | Huntington, WV | 50% | $46,354 | $7,502 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 39 | [Atlanta Metropolitan State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college) | Atlanta, GA | 16% | $33,252 | $5,258 | $14,123 | 0.42x |
| 40 | [University of Akron Wayne College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-akron-wayne-college) | Orrville, OH | 19% | $46,600 | $6,032 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 41 | [Universidad Central de Bayamon](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/universidad-central-de-bayamon) | Bayamón, PR | 37% | $25,021 | $4,827 | $9,393 | 0.38x |
| 42 | [Hillsborough Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hillsborough-community-college) | Tampa, FL | 34% | $40,782 | $3,861 | $9,762 | 0.24x |
| 43 | [Chipola College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chipola-college) | Marianna, FL | 57% | $37,378 | $1,133 | N/A | N/A |
| 44 | [South Florida State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-florida-state-college) | Avon Park, FL | 49% | $39,990 | $3,877 | $7,368 | 0.18x |
| 45 | [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-bakersfield) | Bakersfield, CA | 50% | $59,009 | $5,652 | $16,600 | 0.28x |
| 46 | [Ohio University-Eastern Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-university-eastern-campus) | Saint Clairsville, OH | 20% | $52,581 | $3,925 | $21,056 | 0.4x |
| 47 | [Pensacola State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pensacola-state-college) | Pensacola, FL | 39% | $36,739 | $3,957 | $7,500 | 0.2x |
| 48 | [United States Merchant Marine Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-states-merchant-marine-academy) | Kings Point, NY | 81% | $90,610 | $6,174 | $8,833 | 0.1x |
| 49 | [Sinclair Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sinclair-community-college) | Dayton, OH | 36% | $37,558 | $5,992 | $12,000 | 0.32x |
| 50 | [New College of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-college-of-florida) | Sarasota, FL | 64% | $48,082 | $7,195 | $17,375 | 0.36x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Master's Programs." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-masters

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.