2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 137 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for marketing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marketing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marketing Schools
For return on investment in marketing, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #2 place for marketing. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $39,394. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for marketing. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $17,616. Early-career marketing graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Oakton Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $48,838. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Marketing graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $44,198. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.
Muskegon Community College landed the #6 spot for marketing value this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $14,928. Marketing graduates of Muskegon Community College earn a median of $48,267 early in their careers. Set against $14,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #7 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Marketing graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Marketing graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College placed #9 among the best values for marketing. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #10 for value in marketing this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #11 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Marketing graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Mchenry County College placed #12 among the best values for marketing. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $7,440. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #13 position for value in marketing this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Marketing graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Marketing graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #14 for value in marketing this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ferris State University earned the #15 position for value in marketing this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $25,450. Marketing graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $39,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,450 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #16 among the best values for marketing. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Marketing graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $42,782. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University placed #17 among the best values for marketing. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $25,715. Marketing graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $50,087 early in their careers. Set against $25,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #18 for value in marketing this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $23,625. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $46,664. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #19 position for value in marketing this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Marketing graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $43,479. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Purdue University Global ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James A Rhodes State College placed #21 among the best values for marketing. James A Rhodes State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Lima. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $9,120 for out-of-state students. Marketing graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. Marketing graduates of James A Rhodes State College earn a median of $47,074 early in their careers. Set against $17,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #22 spot for marketing value this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Marketing graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
Purdue University Northwest placed #23 among the best values for marketing. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,437 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $41,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Michigan College earned the #24 position for value in marketing this year. Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Benton Harbor. In-state tuition and fees average $5,445, compared with $7,755 for out-of-state students. Marketing graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Lake Michigan College generally make around $50,185. That is a strong return on a $14,473 median debt.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $44,379. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Marketing Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for marketing this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 137 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 137 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.
