2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in curriculum & instruction in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $20,115. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes National Louis University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $29,242. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $61,839 early in their careers. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Indiana State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $25,582. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. That is a strong return on a $25,582 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at University Of St Francis, which ranked #4. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $25,695. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $66,085 early in their careers. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University earned the #6 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #7 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $57,521 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #9 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,293. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $49,117. Set against $24,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #10 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $49,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,619. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $55,178. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University earned the #12 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $22,608. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $57,036. Set against $22,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #14 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,657. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $57,584. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #15 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $54,302. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #16 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University earned the #17 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,419. Set against $26,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Lewis University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #19 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $60,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $33,307 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $56,966. Set against $33,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #21 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,956. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $67,571. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University landed the #22 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Central Michigan University earned the #23 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $57,102. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University landed the #24 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $57,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Michigan State University placed #25 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $63,979. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in curriculum & instruction:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
