2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Michigan

[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general educational leadership & administration students.
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2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general educational leadership & administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for value among general educational leadership & administration schools in Michigan. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $96,834. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in general educational leadership & administration will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $25,972. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $71,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Saginaw Valley State University one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $65,005. That is a strong return on a $28,091 median debt. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general educational leadership & administration will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $70,455. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & 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.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #6 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $28,781. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $70,709. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University placed #7 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $26,378. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $53,932. That is a strong return on a $26,378 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Western Michigan University came in at #8 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $27,981. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $75,270. Set against $27,981 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #9 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. 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. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $25,213. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $73,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Calvin College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,350. Students borrow a median of $22,707 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $44,220 early in their careers. Set against $22,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Calvin College admits about 71% of applicants.
Concordia University Ann Arbor placed #11 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,410. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $27,584 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Concordia University Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Ann Arbor admits about 69% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.