2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/business-analytics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Michigan Flint this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Typical student debt for value graduates is $31,016. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $51,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #2 place for value. 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. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,562. Early-career value graduates make about $54,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $62,536. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for value. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,844. Early-career value graduates make about $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at National Louis University earned it the #5 place for value. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $29,242. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $53,733. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #6 among the best values for value. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,306 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $45,767. That is a strong return on a $25,306 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #7 spot for value value this year. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,245. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $47,577. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Value graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,045. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #9 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $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.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #10 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,657. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,561. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Western Michigan University came in at #11 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Value graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Set against $27,981 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $49,223 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,551 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. In-state tuition and fees average $7,176. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. Set against $24,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Wright State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in value this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,836. Early-career value graduates make about $49,077. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #15 for value in value this year. 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. Value graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Value graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University placed #16 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,896. Early-career value graduates make about $49,660. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Davenport University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $24,466. Value graduates carry a median of $30,603 in student loans. Value graduates of Davenport University earn a median of $55,736 early in their careers. Set against $30,603 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #19 spot for value value this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,879. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for value value this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Value graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bradley University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Set against $26,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #22 spot for value value this year. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,764. Early-career value graduates make about $39,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Franklin University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,577. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $57,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #24 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Depaul University came in at #25 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,390. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Value Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value value ranking:
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
