2027 Best Value Interdisciplinary Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Interdisciplinary Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/interdisciplinary-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interdisciplinary studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Interdisciplinary Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interdisciplinary studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interdisciplinary Studies Schools
For return on investment in interdisciplinary studies, no school beat Ivy Tech Community College this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $11,889. Early-career interdisciplinary studies graduates make about $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for interdisciplinary studies. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Flint earned it the #3 place for interdisciplinary studies. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $31,016. Soon after graduation, interdisciplinary studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $51,692. That is a strong return on a $31,016 median debt. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in interdisciplinary studies will find it at Lakeshore Technical College, which ranked #4. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $11,582. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Early-career interdisciplinary studies graduates make about $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gods Bible School And College landed the #6 spot for interdisciplinary studies value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Gods Bible School And College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,710. Median earnings reach $37,722 ten years out. Gods Bible School And College admits about 75% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the interdisciplinary studies program here. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #8 position for value in interdisciplinary studies this year. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $20,017. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn a median of $39,221 early in their careers. Set against $20,017 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National Louis University placed #9 among the best values for interdisciplinary studies. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $29,242. Early-career interdisciplinary studies graduates make about $53,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interdisciplinary studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Central State University landed the #11 spot for interdisciplinary studies value this year. Central State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wilberforce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,058, compared with $10,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $31,318. Soon after graduation, interdisciplinary studies degree recipients from Central State University generally make around $27,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #12 among the best values for interdisciplinary studies. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $30,357. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $31,570 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,357 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #13 among the best values for interdisciplinary studies. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete the interdisciplinary studies program here. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #14 spot for interdisciplinary studies value this year. 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, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the interdisciplinary studies program here. Soon after graduation, interdisciplinary studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in interdisciplinary studies this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career interdisciplinary studies graduates make about $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Herzing University Madison ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,450. Typical student debt for interdisciplinary studies graduates is $30,328. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $53,203 early in their careers. Set against $30,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value interdisciplinary studies schools. Located in the town of Watertown, Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,550 in tuition and fees. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates of Maranatha Baptist Bible College earn a median of $56,298 early in their careers. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #18 spot for interdisciplinary studies value this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,704. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete the interdisciplinary studies program here. Soon after graduation, interdisciplinary studies degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University generally make around $50,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.