2027 Best Value Economics Schools in Michigan
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Economics Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
For return on investment in economics, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,690. Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $68,416 early in their careers. Set against $19,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State University earned it the #2 place for economics. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,681. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $50,648. Set against $24,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Detroit Mercy one of the best values for economics. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Northern Michigan University one of the best values for economics. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,608 in student loans. Economics graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Western Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,981. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,966. Set against $27,981 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Albion College earned the #6 position for value in economics this year. Located in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,950 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Albion College generally make around $48,756. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for economics value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $54,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kalamazoo College earned the #8 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $42,508. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Kalamazoo College admits about 75% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
