2027 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) 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 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in higher education/higher education administration in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #2. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $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 University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $53,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $87,412 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $63,264. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Purdue University Global ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $44,436. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $41,433 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $44,436 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #7 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $25,306. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $45,767 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,306 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Ball State University earned the #8 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. 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, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $24,518. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $63,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #9 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $46,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $43,161. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $75,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #12 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $39,662 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $48,310 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $39,662 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #13 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. 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. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $20,542. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $75,257. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #14 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $28,781. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $70,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #15 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $45,222 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University placed #16 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $53,932. That is a strong return on a $26,378 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $91,059. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Central Michigan University placed #18 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $76,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #19 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $73,134. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
North Central College placed #20 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $81,014. Set against $25,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #21 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $54,199 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #22 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $24,546. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $51,665. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College landed the #23 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $34,086 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $34,425. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $66,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $25,449. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $75,814 early in their careers. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Mckendree University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,740. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Mckendree University generally make around $51,068. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in higher education/higher education administration:
Narrow Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
