2027 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for real estate students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in real estate, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Real Estate Schools
Our analysis ranked Lewis And Clark Community College the best value for a degree in real estate in the Great Lakes Region. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in real estate will find it at Lorain County Community College, which ranked #2. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,718 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $34,934. That is a strong return on a $13,718 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $25,667. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. That is a strong return on a $25,667 median debt.
Edison State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #5 spot this year. Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Piqua. In-state tuition and fees average $4,499, compared with $8,346 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $15,406. Early-career real estate graduates make about $43,481. Set against $15,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College came in at #6 for value in real estate this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the real estate program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #7 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #9 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Zane State College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,766. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,405 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $35,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #11 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $46,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern State Community College earned the #12 position for value in real estate this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,912, compared with $10,818 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,282 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of Southern State Community College earn a median of $45,611 early in their careers. Set against $15,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark State Community College came in at #13 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,393, while out-of-state students pay about $8,049. Students borrow a median of $20,740 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $39,734. Set against $20,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ball State University came in at #14 for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $24,518. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $58,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #15 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $24,637 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $46,561. Set against $24,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $72,769. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #17 spot for real estate value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $73,239. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $21,220 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $58,659. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford came in at #20 for value in real estate this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Marquette University came in at #21 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $58,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
Narrow Real Estate Schools by State
More Real Estate Rankings
View All Real Estate Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
