2027 Best Value Health Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Health Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/health-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for health education students.
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2027 Best Value Health Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the health education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Health Education Schools
For return on investment in health education, no school beat Wayne State University this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health education graduates is $26,000. Health Education graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $45,675 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Typical student debt for health education graduates is $28,866. Early-career health education graduates make about $38,821. That is a strong return on a $28,866 median debt. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in health education will find it at Western Illinois University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the health education program here. Health Education graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $50,756 early in their careers. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Youngstown State University one of the best values for health education. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $26,751 to complete the health education program here. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $49,025. That is a strong return on a $26,751 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #5 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the best values for health education. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Health Education graduates carry a median of $21,182 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $51,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University earned the #6 position for value in health education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $26,746 to complete the health education program here. Health Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,308 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value health education schools. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Health Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Health Education graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Carroll University placed #8 among the best values for health education. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,890. Typical student debt for health education graduates is $26,904. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot for health education value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the health education program here. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #10 spot for health education value this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Health Education graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $50,587. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #11 spot for health education value this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Health Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse admits about 76% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #12 position for value in health education this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the health education program here. Health Education graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $46,732 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for value in health education this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for health education graduates is $29,000. Health Education graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $52,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #14 position for value in health education this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Health Education graduates carry a median of $24,149 in student loans. Health Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $50,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,149 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ripon College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value health education schools. Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ripon. Students from in state pay about $51,900 in tuition and fees. Health Education graduates carry a median of $26,973 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from Ripon College generally make around $35,385. That is a strong return on a $26,973 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #16 spot for health education value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Health Education graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Early-career health education graduates make about $47,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Alverno College placed #17 among the best values for health education. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,086. Health Education graduates carry a median of $34,425 in student loans. Health Education graduates of Alverno College earn a median of $55,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,425 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mount Union placed #18 among the best values for health education. Located in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,600. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the health education program here. Early-career health education graduates make about $52,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The University Of Findlay placed #19 among the best values for health education. Set in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,164 in tuition and fees. Health Education graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health education degree recipients from The University Of Findlay generally make around $57,676. Set against $25,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.