2027 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 103 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value finance schools.
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2027 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Finance Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for finance in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Finance graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $55,591. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, which ranked #2. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Finance graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,944 in student loans. Finance graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $61,804 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,944 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $22,150 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $58,438 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,150 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Ferris State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,562. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $54,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $75,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Northern Illinois University came in at #7 for value in finance this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $54,802. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $15,854. Finance graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University earned the #9 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $56,804. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Dominican University landed the #10 spot for finance value this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $45,546. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University placed #11 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,326. Early-career finance graduates make about $46,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,078 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $53,062. That is a strong return on a $23,078 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #13 among the best values for finance. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $46,284. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #14 among the best values for finance. 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, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,335. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Students borrow a median of $25,930 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $49,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #16 position for value in finance this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $43,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #17 among the best values for finance. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University landed the #18 spot for finance value this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,805. Early-career finance graduates make about $46,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #19 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,935 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $44,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #20 position for value in finance this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,468. Finance graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,370 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,468 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Purdue University Global placed #21 among the best values for finance. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $57,375 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $53,086. Set against $57,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #22 position for value in finance this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $24,245. Finance graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $47,577 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #23 for value in finance this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $25,469. Early-career finance graduates make about $55,874. That is a strong return on a $25,469 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Finance graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #25 spot for finance value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $20,447. Early-career finance graduates make about $48,708. That is a strong return on a $20,447 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Finance Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in finance:
Narrow Finance Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 103 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.
