2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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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
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,448 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $33,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,448 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,619. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Value graduates carry a median of $23,402 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $32,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Value graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Value 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.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #6 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $30,614. Early-career value graduates make about $49,254. Set against $30,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. 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 value program here. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Value graduates carry a median of $25,730 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $29,887. Set against $25,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University placed #9 among the best values for value. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for value. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value 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.
Northwestern University placed #11 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $39,012. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
