2027 Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Accounting and Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/accounting-and-finance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 accounting and finance students.
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2027 Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in accounting and finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools
Stark State College tops our 2027 list of the best value accounting and finance schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $19,455 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Accounting And Finance graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $38,671 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in accounting and finance will find it at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #2. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $23,981 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Early-career accounting and finance graduates make about $43,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in accounting and finance will find it at Ferris State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,838 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Early-career accounting and finance graduates make about $46,359. That is a strong return on a $25,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Michigan University earned it the #4 place for accounting and finance. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Accounting And Finance graduates carry a median of $24,651 in student loans. Accounting And Finance graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global one of the best values for accounting and finance. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. Typical student debt for accounting and finance graduates is $31,946. Accounting And Finance graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $56,765 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohio Wesleyan University landed the #6 spot for accounting and finance value 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. Accounting And Finance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, accounting and finance degree recipients from Ohio Wesleyan University generally make around $48,958. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Hiram College came in at #7 for value in accounting and finance this year. Hiram College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hiram. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,397. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Soon after graduation, accounting and finance degree recipients from Hiram College generally make around $40,613. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #8 for value in accounting and finance this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Early-career accounting and finance graduates make about $68,174. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Devry University Illinois came in at #9 for value in accounting and finance this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,008. Typical student debt for accounting and finance graduates is $54,380. Accounting And Finance graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $60,172 early in their careers. Set against $54,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Devry University Illinois admits about 98% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.