2026 Best Value Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Asian Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/asian-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong asian studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value asian studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in asian studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Asian Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in asian studies in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the asian studies program here. Soon after graduation, asian studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for asian studies. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for asian studies graduates is $16,984. Asian Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $32,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,984 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value asian studies schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for asian studies graduates is $25,788. Early-career asian studies graduates make about $46,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value asian studies schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career asian studies graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the best values for asian studies. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Asian Studies graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $69,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 24 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.