2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 71 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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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
Our analysis ranked Youngstown State University the best value for a degree in value in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,373. Early-career value graduates make about $49,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned it the #2 place 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Value graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $45,767 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,306 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Flint earned it the #3 place for value. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, 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. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. 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. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Purdue University Global placed #6 among the best values for value. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Value graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Value graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $54,278 early in their careers. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in value this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,347. Early-career value graduates make about $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value value 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. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,854. Value 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. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $48,966. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent placed #12 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the value program here. 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.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Davenport University placed #14 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $24,466 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $30,603. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Davenport University generally make around $55,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus landed the #15 spot for value value this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,176 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
Franklin University landed the #16 spot for value value this year. 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. Value graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans. Value graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $57,471 early in their careers. Set against $35,890 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Depaul University came in at #17 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $55,226. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University landed the #18 spot for value value this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,560. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,351. Value graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
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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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
