2026 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
Leading the list is Kent State University At Kent, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $61,632. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Narrow Value Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 2 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.
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/podiatric-medicine-podiatry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
