2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/financial-analytics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
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
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Value graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. 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. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 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.
