2027 Best Value Research and Development Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Research and Development Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/research-and-development-management/) 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 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for research and development management students.
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2027 Best Value Research and Development Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in research and development management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Research and Development Management Schools
Andrews University earned the #1 spot for value among research and development management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the research and development management program here. Early-career research and development management graduates make about $62,634. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Detroit Mercy earned it the #2 place for research and development management. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Research And Development Management graduates carry a median of $22,735 in student loans. Research And Development Management graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $52,563 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Stout one of the best values for research and development management. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for research and development management graduates is $27,000. Early-career research and development management graduates make about $54,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in research and development management will find it at Central Michigan University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Research And Development Management graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Research And Development Management graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $65,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.