2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2027 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 Flint tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Typical student debt for value graduates is $31,016. Value graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $51,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,562. Early-career value graduates make about $54,608. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,137. Early-career value graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for value. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,844. Value graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Chicago placed #6 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Value graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
National Louis University earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. 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. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global came in at #8 for value in value this year. 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. Early-career value graduates make about $54,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Youngstown State University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,373. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $49,025. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #10 position for value in value this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Students borrow a median of $25,306 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Set against $25,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $47,577 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #13 for value in value this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Value graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $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 La Crosse earned the #14 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Value graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #15 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,657. Early-career value graduates make about $46,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus placed #16 among the best values for value. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $7,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus earn a median of $47,735 early in their careers. Set against $24,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
Western Michigan University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Value graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,966. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,836. Early-career value graduates make about $49,077. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #19 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Value graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Toledo ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Value graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $52,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Illinois State University placed #21 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Value graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. Value graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Davenport University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,466. Value graduates carry a median of $30,603 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $55,736. Set against $30,603 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University came in at #23 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Value graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #24 position for value in value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $44,776. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for value value this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Value graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. 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. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Value Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in value:
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
