2026 Best Value E-Commerce Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[E-Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/e-commerce/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong e-commerce education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for e-commerce students.
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2026 Best Value E-Commerce Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in e-commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value E-Commerce Schools
Leading the list is Lake Land College, our #1 best value for e-commerce in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the e-commerce program here. E-Commerce graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in e-commerce will find it at Lansing Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for e-commerce graduates is $17,248. E-Commerce graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $43,026 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,248 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vincennes University earned it the #3 place for e-commerce. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Typical student debt for e-commerce graduates is $15,306. Soon after graduation, e-commerce degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne County Community College District earned it the #4 place for e-commerce. Wayne County Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for e-commerce graduates is $20,820. Early-career e-commerce graduates make about $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in e-commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,591 to complete the e-commerce program here. Early-career e-commerce graduates make about $56,930. Set against $23,591 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ferris State University earned the #6 position for value in e-commerce this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for e-commerce graduates is $21,713. E-Commerce graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $68,526 early in their careers. Set against $21,713 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #7 spot for e-commerce value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. E-Commerce graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Early-career e-commerce graduates make about $60,740. That is a strong return on a $26,899 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo earned the #8 position for value in e-commerce this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for e-commerce graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, e-commerce degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $57,166. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Lewis University earned the #9 position for value in e-commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. E-Commerce graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. E-Commerce graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $62,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value e-commerce schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. E-Commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, e-commerce degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $69,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #11 for value in e-commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the e-commerce program here. E-Commerce graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Judson University placed #12 among the best values for e-commerce. Judson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $30,297. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the e-commerce program here. E-Commerce graduates of Judson University earn a median of $58,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Northwestern University earned the #13 position for value in e-commerce this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. E-Commerce graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career e-commerce graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value e-commerce schools. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. E-Commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, e-commerce degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $65,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #15 among the best values for e-commerce. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $26,333 to complete the e-commerce program here. Early-career e-commerce graduates make about $55,226. Set against $26,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
