2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-medicine/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $96,557. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $102,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,053. Value graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $125,002 early in their careers. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Value graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $89,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Michigan State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,213. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $100,429. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.