2027 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Microbiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/microbiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for microbiology students.
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2027 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in microbiology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Microbiology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for microbiology in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $18,644 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $32,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for microbiology. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $15,854. Microbiology graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned it the #3 place for microbiology. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. In-state tuition and fees average $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Students borrow a median of $25,464 to complete the microbiology program here. Microbiology graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $54,290 early in their careers. Set against $25,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for microbiology. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. 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 microbiology program here. Microbiology graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value microbiology schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $37,592. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value microbiology schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $23,480 to complete the microbiology program here. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $49,186. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Michigan State University earned the #7 position for value in microbiology 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, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $29,301 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $38,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value microbiology schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value microbiology schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.