by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/digital-marketing/) 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 31 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Macomb Community College, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,862. Value graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Value graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Michigan College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the rural area of Benton Harbor, Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,445, with out-of-state students paying around $7,755. Value graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. Value graduates of Lake Michigan College earn a median of $50,185 early in their careers. Set against $14,473 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $46,664. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #7 for value in value this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Global placed #8 among the best values for value. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $54,278. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #10 among the best values for value. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Value graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $43,479. Set against $13,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College earned the #12 position for value in value this year. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $7,171. Value graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $41,678. That is a strong return on a $11,626 median debt.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #13 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $44,376. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #14 among the best values for value. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,595. Early-career value graduates make about $34,630. Set against $16,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #15 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $35,014 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #16 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $42,853. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #17 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $69,994. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Youngstown State University came in at #18 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,900. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $36,518. That is a strong return on a $23,900 median debt. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Value graduates carry a median of $19,264 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,264 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,812. Value graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in value this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Value graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $47,740. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Cleveland State University landed the #22 spot for value value this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,219 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $43,706. Set against $24,219 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #23 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Value graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $43,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #24 for value in value this year. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $46,432. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse admits about 76% of applicants.
Aurora University placed #25 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Students borrow a median of $22,900 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $39,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value value ranking:
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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.