2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/human-centered-technology-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Value graduates carry a median of $19,399 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $113,503. That is a strong return on a $19,399 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the best values for value. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $63,535 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Franklin University earned it the #3 place for value. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Typical student debt for value graduates is $39,352. Value graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $63,310 early in their careers. Set against $39,352 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,203 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $80,126. Set against $23,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the best values for value. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Value graduates carry a median of $22,701 in student loans. Value graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $68,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,701 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
