2027 Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Zoology/Animal Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/zoology-animal-biology/) 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 10 schools to find the best return on investment for zoology/animal biology students.
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2027 Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in zoology/animal biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Schools
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #1 spot for value among zoology/animal biology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $21,717. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $34,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in zoology/animal biology, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $24,800. Early-career zoology/animal biology 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for zoology/animal biology. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete the zoology/animal biology program here. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $23,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in zoology/animal biology will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $26,801. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Olivet Nazarene University earned it the #5 place for zoology/animal biology. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $26,797. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #6 among the best values for zoology/animal biology. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $25,491. 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 came in at #7 for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Delaware. In-state tuition and fees average $54,248. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $26,646. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from Ohio Wesleyan University generally make around $29,547. Set against $26,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Malone University landed the #8 spot for zoology/animal biology value this year. 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/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $27,956 in student loans. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $48,359. That is a strong return on a $27,956 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $25,210 in student loans. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $29,303. That is a strong return on a $25,210 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #10 position for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete the zoology/animal biology program here. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $28,071 early in their careers. 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 list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.