2026 Best Value Epidemiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Epidemiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/epidemiology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for epidemiology students.
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2026 Best Value Epidemiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in epidemiology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Epidemiology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for epidemiology in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the epidemiology program here. Soon after graduation, epidemiology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value epidemiology schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $15,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, epidemiology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $46,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in epidemiology will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the epidemiology program here. Soon after graduation, epidemiology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in epidemiology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Epidemiology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $28,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for epidemiology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the epidemiology program here. Soon after graduation, epidemiology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #6 spot for epidemiology value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, epidemiology degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for epidemiology value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for epidemiology graduates is $26,500. Epidemiology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $29,318 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for epidemiology. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Epidemiology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Benedictine University landed the #9 spot for epidemiology value this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Early-career epidemiology graduates make about $54,212. That is a strong return on a $25,338 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #10 spot for epidemiology value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Epidemiology graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Early-career epidemiology graduates make about $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 17 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.