2026 Best Value Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist](/majors/health-care-professions/health-medical-administrative-services/medical-transcription-transcriptionist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for medical transcription/transcriptionist students.
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2026 Best Value Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medical transcription/transcriptionist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist Schools
For return on investment in medical transcription/transcriptionist, no school beat Lake Land College this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical transcription/transcriptionist degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
Delta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical transcription/transcriptionist, landing the #2 spot this year. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the medical transcription/transcriptionist program here. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates of Delta College earn a median of $24,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schoolcraft College earned it the #3 place for medical transcription/transcriptionist. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates carry a median of $18,493 in student loans. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. Set against $18,493 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #4 place for medical transcription/transcriptionist. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the medical transcription/transcriptionist program here. Early-career medical transcription/transcriptionist graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #5 place for medical transcription/transcriptionist. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical transcription/transcriptionist graduates is $11,250. Early-career medical transcription/transcriptionist graduates make about $52,904. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
Spoon River College placed #6 among the best values for medical transcription/transcriptionist. Spoon River College is a small public school located in the rural area of Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $6,090, while out-of-state students pay about $13,500. Median earnings reach $38,386 ten years out.
Indiana University Southeast ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value medical transcription/transcriptionist schools. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for medical transcription/transcriptionist graduates is $23,981. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $43,463 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,981 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #8 spot for medical transcription/transcriptionist value this year. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Medical Transcription/transcriptionist graduates carry a median of $22,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical transcription/transcriptionist degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Set against $22,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.