2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Sustainability Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/sustainability-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sustainability studies students.
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2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in sustainability studies in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $42,677 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for sustainability studies. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the sustainability studies program here. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $60,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for sustainability studies. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Green Bay one of the best values for sustainability studies. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $24,477. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for sustainability studies. 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, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $52,963. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $22,053. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $58,088. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for value in sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the sustainability studies program here. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #10 spot for sustainability studies value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $23,530. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $54,897 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Northwestern University earned the #11 position for value in sustainability studies this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $16,616. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #12 position for value in sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $57,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
