2027 Best Value African American Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[African American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for african american studies students.
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2027 Best Value African American Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in african american studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value African American Studies Schools
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among african american studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. African American Studies graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, african american studies degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for african american studies. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for african american studies graduates is $14,802. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $33,991. Set against $14,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #3 place for african american studies. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,448 to complete the african american studies program here. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $33,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in african american studies will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the african american studies program here. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in african american studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for african american studies graduates is $23,402. Soon after graduation, african american studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $32,856. That is a strong return on a $23,402 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value african american studies schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. African American Studies graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $49,911. Set against $22,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #7 spot for african american studies value this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for african american studies graduates is $17,500. African American Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $68,501 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #8 among the best values for african american studies. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,730 to complete the african american studies program here. African American Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $29,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #9 for value in african american studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the african american studies program here. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $28,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #10 among the best values for african american studies. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the african american studies program here. African American Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in african american studies this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. African American Studies graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value african american studies schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. African American Studies graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. African American Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Northwestern University came in at #13 for value in african american studies this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the african american studies program here. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $39,012. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University came in at #14 for value in african american studies this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the african american studies program here. Soon after graduation, african american studies degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $18,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
