2027 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Pharmacy](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/pharmacy/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for pharmacy students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pharmacy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pharmacy Schools
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for value among pharmacy schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $113,856. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $20,115. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $91,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for pharmacy. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $15,775 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $74,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmacy, landing the #4 spot this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the pharmacy program here. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $102,554. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $19,046. Pharmacy graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $71,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,046 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for value in pharmacy this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $119,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Chicago State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,754 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,757. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $69,635 early in their careers. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in pharmacy this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $20,500. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $91,031. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo landed the #9 spot for pharmacy value this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $25,000. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $72,951 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #10 among the best values for pharmacy. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the pharmacy program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $94,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Manchester College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of North Manchester. Students from in state pay about $37,135 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,833 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of Manchester College earn a median of $112,524 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,833 median debt. Manchester College admits about 71% of applicants.
Roosevelt University earned the #12 position for value in pharmacy this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $97,844. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Cedarville University placed #13 among the best values for pharmacy. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $80,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
Ohio Northern University came in at #14 for value in pharmacy this year. Located in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,600. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $75,887. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in pharmacy this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the pharmacy program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $103,717. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The University Of Findlay placed #16 among the best values for pharmacy. Set in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,164 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete the pharmacy program here. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $84,147. That is a strong return on a $25,759 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $25,351. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $116,028. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #18 among the best values for pharmacy. Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $27,172. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $101,885. That is a strong return on a $27,172 median debt. Concordia University Wisconsin admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
