2027 Best Value Project Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Project Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/project-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for project management students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Project Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the project management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Project Management Schools
Oakland University tops our 2027 list of the best value project management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Project Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $76,869. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Moraine Park Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in project management, landing the #2 spot this year. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Project Management graduates carry a median of $13,999 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $46,719. That is a strong return on a $13,999 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #3 place for project management. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $25,797. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $63,086. That is a strong return on a $25,797 median debt.
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in project management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Chillicothe, Ohio University Chillicothe Campus is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,362, compared with $9,444 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Ohio University Chillicothe Campus earn a median of $43,704 early in their careers. Set against $18,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned it the #5 place for project management. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. In-state tuition and fees average $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $16,134 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $40,091. That is a strong return on a $16,134 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #6 position for value in project management this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Project Management graduates carry a median of $15,120 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $39,337 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, with out-of-state students paying around $4,067. Project Management graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District generally make around $48,892. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #8 for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Project Management graduates carry a median of $23,591 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $48,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Mid State Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $16,044 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Mid State Technical College generally make around $47,268. Set against $16,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #10 for value in project management this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Students borrow a median of $24,564 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $55,477. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Students borrow a median of $24,485 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $40,365. Set against $24,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Parkside admits about 75% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in project management 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. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $19,500. Project Management graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $77,454 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Youngstown State University earned the #13 position for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $20,000. Early-career project management graduates make about $68,069. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #14 spot for project management value this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,949 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $47,454. That is a strong return on a $24,949 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University came in at #15 for value in project management this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $27,000. Early-career project management graduates make about $57,760. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #16 position for value in project management this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $73,190. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #17 for value in project management this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Project Management graduates carry a median of $42,138 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $70,748. That is a strong return on a $42,138 median debt.
Central Michigan University came in at #18 for value in project management this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $50,688. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,778 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $23,437 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $52,293 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #20 position for value in project management this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $17,500. Project Management graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $68,181 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Davenport University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,466 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $27,898 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $61,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Judson University earned the #22 position for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,297. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $27,000. Early-career project management graduates make about $47,550. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Judson University admits about 48% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value project management 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, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $18,875. Early-career project management graduates make about $64,346. That is a strong return on a $18,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Roosevelt University came in at #24 for value in project management this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $20,300 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $50,101. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Cornerstone University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,475 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $60,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rest of the Top 33 Best Value Project Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in project management:
Narrow Project Management Schools by State
More Project Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 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.
