2026 Best Value Financial Mathematics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Financial Mathematics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/applied-mathematics/financial-mathematics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for financial mathematics students.
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2026 Best Value Financial Mathematics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the financial mathematics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Financial Mathematics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in financial mathematics in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the financial mathematics program here. Financial Mathematics graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in financial mathematics will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Financial Mathematics graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $53,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in financial mathematics will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for financial mathematics graduates is $19,844. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for financial mathematics. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial mathematics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for financial mathematics. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the financial mathematics program here. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $52,123. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value financial mathematics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Financial Mathematics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value financial mathematics schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $14,929 to complete the financial mathematics program here. Financial Mathematics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $78,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value financial mathematics schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for financial mathematics graduates is $26,774. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #9 spot for financial mathematics value this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #10 spot for financial mathematics value 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the financial mathematics program here. Financial Mathematics graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $69,396 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #11 spot for financial mathematics value this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $69,494. That is a strong return on a $19,891 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Depaul University placed #12 among the best values for financial mathematics. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete the financial mathematics program here. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $81,728. That is a strong return on a $25,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Case Western Reserve University placed #13 among the best values for financial mathematics. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Financial Mathematics graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Early-career financial mathematics graduates make about $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.