by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/energy-systems/) 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 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Ivy Tech Community College this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,889. Early-career value graduates make about $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #2 place for value. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,308. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $67,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Heartland Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $13,110. Value graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $48,710. That is a strong return on a $13,266 median debt.
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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.