2026 Best Value Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies](/majors/health-care-professions/health-medical-preparatory-programs/pre-medicine-pre-medical-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pre-medicine/pre-medical studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies Schools
For return on investment in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies, no school beat Stark State College this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies will find it at University Of Akron Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates make about $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ball State University one of the best values for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $25,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $37,638. That is a strong return on a $25,732 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Dominican University one of the best values for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates is $30,000. Early-career pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates make about $45,546. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Manchester College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of North Manchester, Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,135. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from Manchester College generally make around $52,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Cornerstone University came in at #6 for value in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $29,243 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $44,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Findlay earned the #8 position for value in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies this year. Located in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,164. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the pre-medicine/pre-medical studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from The University Of Findlay generally make around $57,676. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Northwestern University landed the #9 spot for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies value this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates is $16,616. Early-career pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #10 position for value in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Typical student debt for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates is $18,520. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value pre-medicine/pre-medical studies schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates is $24,794. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $20,263 early in their careers. Set against $24,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot for pre-medicine/pre-medical studies value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the pre-medicine/pre-medical studies program here. Early-career pre-medicine/pre-medical studies graduates make about $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #13 position for value in pre-medicine/pre-medical studies this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Pre-Medicine/pre-Medical Studies graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-medicine/pre-medical studies degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.