2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 67 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Green Bay, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $42,853. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for value. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Value graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, 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. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for value. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Value graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Value graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #6 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Value graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #7 among the best values for value. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,551. 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. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #8 for value in value this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Value graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. That is a strong return on a $22,574 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Grand Valley State University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,378. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $50,179. That is a strong return on a $26,378 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,838. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Toledo earned the #11 position for value in value this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,923. Value graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Value graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,380. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northwestern University placed #14 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
John Carroll University placed #15 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. Students borrow a median of $26,131 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $44,308. That is a strong return on a $26,131 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Denison University earned the #16 position for value in value this year. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Students from in state pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. That is a strong return on a $25,360 median debt. Denison University admits about 17% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University placed #17 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,106. Value graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
