by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,862. Value graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,126 early in their careers. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,562. Value graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #3 place for value. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $32,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Columbus State Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the value program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for value. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,525. Value graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $31,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College placed #6 among the best values for value. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $39,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,384. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #8 spot for value value this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #9 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Heartland Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,110 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,266. Early-career value graduates make about $48,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox College Inc landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Tinley Park, Fox College Inc is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,670. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,722. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fox College Inc generally make around $36,853. That is a strong return on a $14,722 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Gateway Technical College placed #12 among the best values for value. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,829. Value graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $37,132 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,098. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $43,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #14 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $34,698. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #15 for value in value this year. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,211, with out-of-state students paying around $17,969. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Kent State University At Tuscarawas generally make around $33,716. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt.
Baker College Of Flint landed the #16 spot for value value this year. Set in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,000. Students borrow a median of $19,603 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Baker College Of Flint generally make around $35,142. Set against $19,603 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $16,545 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $35,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,545 median debt.
International Business College Indianapolis landed the #18 spot for value value this year. International Business College Indianapolis is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,170. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,624. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from International Business College Indianapolis generally make around $30,508. Set against $13,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Caris College placed #19 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Jeffersonville, Caris College is a small private for-profit university.
Michigan State University earned the #20 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $41,400. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ross Medical Education Center Canton earned the #21 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Canton, Ross Medical Education Center Canton is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,942 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ross Medical Education Center Canton generally make around $23,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earned the #22 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Value graduates carry a median of $21,356 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $31,807. That is a strong return on a $21,356 median debt.
Stautzenberger College Maumee earned the #23 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Maumee, Stautzenberger College Maumee is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,699. Value graduates carry a median of $21,219 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Stautzenberger College Maumee generally make around $31,186. Set against $21,219 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Career College placed #24 among the best values for value. Milwaukee Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Milwaukee. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Milwaukee Career College generally make around $30,488. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Milwaukee Career College admits about 73% of applicants.
Ross College Canton landed the #25 spot for value value this year. Ross College Canton is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Canton. Students borrow a median of $14,655 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ross College Canton generally make around $30,858. That is a strong return on a $14,655 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in value:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.