2027 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Finance & Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 109 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value finance & financial management schools.
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2027 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance & financial management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools
Columbus State Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $17,625. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $55,591 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance & financial management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in finance & financial management will find it at Milwaukee Area Technical College, which ranked #4. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $18,296. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland University earned it the #5 place for finance & financial management. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,944. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $61,804. Set against $23,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Edison State Community College came in at #6 for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,499, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $15,406 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $43,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College earned the #7 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #8 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $22,150 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $58,438. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
James A Rhodes State College landed the #9 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $17,070. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from James A Rhodes State College generally make around $47,074. Set against $17,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University placed #10 among the best values for finance & financial management. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $54,608. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Stark State College came in at #11 for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Northwest landed the #12 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $53,062. Set against $23,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #13 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $75,381. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. 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. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $19,500. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $54,802 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Michigan Flint placed #15 among the best values for finance & financial management. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $25,930 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $49,650 early in their careers. Set against $25,930 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Chicago landed the #16 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $23,326 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $46,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Dominican University placed #18 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $26,236. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
Wayne State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $56,804. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #20 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $46,284. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana State University landed the #21 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $22,805. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $46,207. That is a strong return on a $22,805 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $22,335 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $59,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $57,375. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $53,086. That is a strong return on a $57,375 median debt.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #24 spot for finance & financial management value this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $43,335 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #25 position for value in finance & financial management this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. In-state tuition and fees average $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s finance & financial management value ranking:
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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 · 109 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 109 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.