2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for general social sciences students.
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2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Dearborn the best value for a degree in general social sciences in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $38,850 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $19,844. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at University Of Wisconsin River Falls, which ranked #3. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $42,357 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for general social sciences. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $53,788 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $56,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University came in at #6 for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $27,400. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $43,217. That is a strong return on a $27,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Shawnee State University came in at #8 for value in general social sciences this year. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,233 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $42,878 early in their careers. Set against $25,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $27,873 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $29,198. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $46,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
North Central College landed the #11 spot for general social sciences value this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $46,247. That is a strong return on a $25,699 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $52,274. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Franklin University placed #13 among the best values for general social sciences. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,577. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete the general social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Franklin University generally make around $57,471. Set against $35,890 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern University came in at #14 for value in general social sciences this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
