2027 Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship](/majors/education/educational-administration/elementary-and-middle-school-administration-principalship/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value elementary & middle school administration/principalship schools.
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2027 Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary & middle school administration/principalship, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools
For return on investment in elementary & middle school administration/principalship, no school beat Ohio State University Marion Campus this year. Ohio State University Marion Campus is a small public school located in the town of Marion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,488, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Typical student debt for elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, elementary & middle school administration/principalship degree recipients from Ohio State University Marion Campus generally make around $36,487. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Lima Campus earned it the #2 place for elementary & middle school administration/principalship. Located in the rural area of Lima, Ohio State University Lima Campus is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,488, with out-of-state students paying around $36,266. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates of Ohio State University Lima Campus earn a median of $36,487 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt.
Ohio State University Newark Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary & middle school administration/principalship, landing the #3 spot this year. Ohio State University Newark Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Newark. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the elementary & middle school administration/principalship program here. Soon after graduation, elementary & middle school administration/principalship degree recipients from Ohio State University Newark Campus generally make around $36,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in elementary & middle school administration/principalship will find it at Ball State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates is $24,518. Soon after graduation, elementary & middle school administration/principalship degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $63,782. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Mansfield Campus earned it the #5 place for elementary & middle school administration/principalship. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates of Ohio State University Mansfield Campus earn a median of $36,487 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in elementary & middle school administration/principalship this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the elementary & middle school administration/principalship program here. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $36,487 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.