2026 Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Business/Managerial Economics](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-managerial-economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong business/managerial economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for business/managerial economics students.
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2026 Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the business/managerial economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools
Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value business/managerial economics schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the business/managerial economics program here. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $61,979. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in business/managerial economics will find it at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #2. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the business/managerial economics program here. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $53,536. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
The College Of Wooster came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value business/managerial economics schools. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,640 in tuition and fees. Business/managerial Economics graduates carry a median of $25,936 in student loans. Business/managerial Economics graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,936 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Northwestern University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value business/managerial economics schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in business/managerial economics will find it at Wheaton College Illinois, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Business/managerial Economics graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Business/managerial Economics graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $55,300 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #6 for value in business/managerial economics this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $60,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #7 among the best values for business/managerial economics. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $21,666 to complete the business/managerial economics program here. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $53,682. That is a strong return on a $21,666 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Marquette University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value business/managerial economics schools. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $53,345. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Dayton placed #9 among the best values for business/managerial economics. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,548 to complete the business/managerial economics program here. Early-career business/managerial economics graduates make about $55,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University placed #10 among the best values for business/managerial economics. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,425 in tuition and fees. Business/managerial Economics graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. That is a strong return on a $26,614 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value business/managerial economics schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $21,574. Business/managerial Economics graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $61,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,574 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
