2027 Best Value Zoology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Zoology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/) 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for zoology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Zoology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the zoology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Zoology Schools
For return on investment in zoology, no school beat Purdue University Main Campus this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the zoology program here. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $21,717 to complete the zoology program here. Early-career zoology graduates make about $34,014. Set against $21,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Zoology graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career zoology graduates make about $27,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carroll University earned it the #4 place for zoology. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,890. Zoology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $25,303. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Carroll University admits about 67% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $24,800 to complete the zoology program here. Early-career zoology graduates make about $29,996. Set against $24,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University earned the #6 position for value in zoology this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Students borrow a median of $26,378 to complete the zoology program here. Early-career zoology graduates make about $50,179. Set against $26,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for value in zoology this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete the zoology program here. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $23,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Michigan State University placed #8 among the best values for zoology. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Zoology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Zoology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $26,801 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the zoology program here. Early-career zoology graduates make about $48,505. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #10 position for value in zoology this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for zoology graduates is $25,000. Zoology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $25,491 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University placed #11 among the best values for zoology. Set in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,248. Typical student debt for zoology graduates is $26,646. Zoology graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of $29,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,646 median debt. Ohio Wesleyan University admits about 56% of applicants.
Malone University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Located in the city of Canton, Malone University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,160. Zoology graduates carry a median of $27,956 in student loans. Zoology graduates of Malone University earn a median of $48,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for zoology graduates is $25,210. Zoology graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $29,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value zoology schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete the zoology program here. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $28,071. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
