2027 Best Value Evolutionary Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Evolutionary Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for evolutionary biology students.
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2027 Best Value Evolutionary Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the evolutionary biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Evolutionary Biology Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among evolutionary biology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $15,242 in student loans. Evolutionary Biology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $46,846 early in their careers. Set against $15,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in evolutionary biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $20,778. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in evolutionary biology will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $25,800. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value evolutionary biology schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in evolutionary biology, landing the #5 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #6 for value in evolutionary biology this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value evolutionary biology schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $27,857. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $50,688. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Michigan State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value evolutionary biology schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #9 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University placed #10 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $74,459. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.