2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Adult & Continuing Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/adult-and-continuing-education-administration/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for adult & continuing education administration students.
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2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in adult & continuing education administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Illinois University the best value for a degree in adult & continuing education administration in the Great Lakes Region. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Adult & Continuing Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education administration graduates make about $63,264. That is a strong return on a $25,209 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value adult & continuing education administration schools. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education administration graduates is $24,619. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education administration degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $56,223. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult & continuing education administration, landing the #3 spot 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. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education administration graduates is $27,857. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education administration degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $76,885. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Carroll University one of the best values for adult & continuing education administration. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education administration graduates is $26,904. Early-career adult & continuing education administration graduates make about $62,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in adult & continuing education administration will find it at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education administration graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education administration degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 1 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.