2027 Best Value Applied Behavior Analysis Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Applied Behavior Analysis](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/applied-behavior-analysis/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value applied behavior analysis schools.
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2027 Best Value Applied Behavior Analysis Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied behavior analysis, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Behavior Analysis Schools
Purdue University Global tops our 2027 list of the best value applied behavior analysis schools in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $42,443 to complete the applied behavior analysis program here. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $39,572. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in applied behavior analysis will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $26,516. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State University earned it the #3 place for applied behavior analysis. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $58,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in applied behavior analysis will find it at National Louis University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $57,591. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #5 place for applied behavior analysis. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $27,075. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $64,930. That is a strong return on a $27,075 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University landed the #6 spot for applied behavior analysis value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $27,000. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $57,368 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University placed #7 among the best values for applied behavior analysis. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $26,378. Early-career applied behavior analysis graduates make about $54,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Trinity Christian College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value applied behavior analysis schools. Located in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,605. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $28,722. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value applied behavior analysis 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, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the applied behavior analysis program here. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $71,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Huntington University came in at #10 for value in applied behavior analysis this year. Huntington University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Huntington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,870. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $28,332 in student loans. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of Huntington University earn a median of $49,079 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value applied behavior analysis schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $58,818 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in applied behavior analysis this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied behavior analysis degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $45,196. That is a strong return on a $25,449 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for applied behavior analysis. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Applied Behavior Analysis graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,516 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton placed #14 among the best values for applied behavior analysis. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for applied behavior analysis graduates is $25,033. Early-career applied behavior analysis graduates make about $50,838. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.