2026 Best Value Labor Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Labor Studies](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/labor-studies/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for labor studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Labor Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the labor studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Labor Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis the best value for a degree in labor studies in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Labor Studies graduates carry a median of $25,422 in student loans. Labor Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $51,570 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,422 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #2 place for labor studies. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the labor studies program here. Early-career labor studies graduates make about $52,123. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in labor studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for labor studies graduates is $23,475. Soon after graduation, labor studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $78,014. Set against $23,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
