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2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Value](/majors/engineering/energy-systems-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

$18,848 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,137 Avg Student Debt

$83,648 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.

2

University Of Dayton
Dayton, OH

$49,140 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,033 Avg Student Debt

$75,537 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Dayton earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Value graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.