2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Michigan
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied economics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value applied economics schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best value for a degree in applied economics in Michigan. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $19,690 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $68,416 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #2 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for applied economics. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
More Applied Economics Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
