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2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Area Studies, Other](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/area-studies-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for area studies, other students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

$18,267 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,050 Avg Student Debt

$81,054 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for area studies, other in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Area Studies, Other graduates carry a median of $22,050 in student loans. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $24,332. That is a strong return on a $22,050 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.

2

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

$14,158 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,546 Avg Student Debt

$52,581 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for area studies, other. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.