2026 Best Value International Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value International Education graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 27 schools 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, Teaching Degree Search 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 International Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Loyola University Chicago this year in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. The median International Education program debt is $23,521. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,530 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%. Read more about Loyola University Chicago
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Lehigh University landed the #2 spot. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete their International Education program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $105,584. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Lehigh University
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, George Washington University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. George Washington University International Education students take on a median of $22,910 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $90,873. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. The acceptance rate is 47%. See the full George Washington University profile
Suny At Albany came in at #4 on this year's best-value International Education ranking in the United States. Based in Albany, NY, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical International Education student debt is $23,521. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,979 ten years after entry. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany has an acceptance rate of 69%. Get the full Suny At Albany report
You'll get strong value at Kent State University At Kent, which ranked #5 this year. Kent State University At Kent is a public school based in Kent, OH. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
University Of Kentucky landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. University Of Kentucky International Education students take on a median of $24,094 in debt. 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 has an acceptance rate of 93%. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
Sit Graduate Institute landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Brattleboro, VT, Sit Graduate Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,734. Read more about Sit Graduate Institute
Georgia State University placed #8 among the best-value International Education schools in the United States. More on Georgia State University
American University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full American University profile
Boston College
Boston College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Education schools. Read more about Boston College
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Indiana University Bloomington profile
Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Teachers College At Columbia University profile
The College Of New Jersey came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on The College Of New Jersey
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Education schools. See the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Jacksonville University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Jacksonville University profile
Endicott College
Endicott College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Education schools. Read more about Endicott College
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Harvard University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Harvard University
Niagara University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Niagara University
Vanderbilt University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Vanderbilt University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Education schools. Read more about Arizona State University Skysong
Florida International University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Florida International University
New York University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read more about New York University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value International Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Sam Houston State University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Sam Houston State University
Duke University
Duke University placed #27 among the best-value International Education schools in the United States. More on Duke University
Related International Education Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value International Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value International Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Education Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 27 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).
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