2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Adult & Continuing Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/adult-continuing-education/) 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 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for adult & continuing education students.
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2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in adult & continuing education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 best value for adult & continuing education in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $18,646. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Set against $18,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana State University one of the best values for adult & continuing education. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $25,000. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $40,204 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in adult & continuing education will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #3. 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. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $49,947. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #4 place for adult & continuing education. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $24,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $48,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult & continuing education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $39,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College earned the #6 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,086. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $30,584 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Alverno College generally make around $55,790. Set against $30,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Muskingum University placed #7 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Set in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,701. Students borrow a median of $25,215 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Muskingum University earn a median of $35,861 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,215 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Judson University earned the #8 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $27,685 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $47,550. That is a strong return on a $27,685 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.