2027 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Michigan

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong higher education/higher education administration education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for higher education/higher education administration students.
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2027 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in higher education/higher education administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Leading the list is Oakland University, our #1 best value for higher education/higher education administration in Michigan. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. 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. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $53,861. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $75,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Michigan University earned it the #4 place for higher education/higher education administration. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $70,709. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Grand Valley State University one of the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,378 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. 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%.
Central Michigan University placed #6 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $27,857. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $76,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #7 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $73,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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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 · 7 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.