2026 Best Value Value Schools in Ohio

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/business-analytics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of Akron Main Campus, our #1 best value for value in Ohio. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $49,045 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #2 makes Wright State University Main Campus one of the best values for value. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,174. 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. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,546. Value graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Franklin University earned it the #5 place for value. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,577. Typical student debt for value graduates is $35,890. Value graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $57,471 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 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.