2027 Best Value Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/fishing-fisheries-sciences/fishing-and-fisheries-sciences-and-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for fishing & fisheries sciences & management students.
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2027 Best Value Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fishing & fisheries sciences & management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management Schools
Our analysis ranked Lake Superior State University the best value for a degree in fishing & fisheries sciences & management in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career fishing & fisheries sciences & management graduates make about $34,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fishing & fisheries sciences & management will find it at Hocking College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete the fishing & fisheries sciences & management program here. Soon after graduation, fishing & fisheries sciences & management degree recipients from Hocking College generally make around $37,713. That is a strong return on a $16,535 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Michigan University one of the best values for fishing & fisheries sciences & management. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Fishing & Fisheries Sciences & Management graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $31,386 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for fishing & fisheries sciences & management. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for fishing & fisheries sciences & management graduates is $21,399. Soon after graduation, fishing & fisheries sciences & management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $42,297. Set against $21,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value fishing & fisheries sciences & management schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for fishing & fisheries sciences & management graduates is $20,500. Early-career fishing & fisheries sciences & management graduates make about $31,317. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 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.