2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/cybersecurity-defense/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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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
Washtenaw Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,616. Value graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Value graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Value graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Washington State Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $16,291 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $45,305. That is a strong return on a $16,291 median debt.
Ohio University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the value program here. 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. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
