2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-biomedical-and-clinical-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Value graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $58,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot 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 $21,335 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College generally make around $30,855. Set against $21,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stautzenberger College Maumee came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Stautzenberger College Maumee is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Maumee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,699. Value graduates carry a median of $21,335 in student loans. Value graduates of Stautzenberger College Maumee earn a median of $30,855 early in their careers. Set against $21,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Stautzenberger College Brecksville, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Brecksville, Stautzenberger College Brecksville is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Students borrow a median of $21,335 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $30,855. Set against $21,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
