2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/international-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for international economics students.
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2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Economics Schools
Leading the list is Albion College, our #1 best value for international economics in the Great Lakes Region. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. Students from in state pay about $56,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $27,000. International Economics graduates of Albion College earn a median of $48,756 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international economics schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete the international economics program here. International Economics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $92,075 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valparaiso University earned it the #3 place for international economics. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $26,724. International Economics graduates of Valparaiso University earn a median of $51,987 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valparaiso University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.
