2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Project Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/project-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong project management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for project management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the project management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Project Management Schools
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among project management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $13,999 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $46,719 early in their careers. Set against $13,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Millikin University earned it the #2 place for project management. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $55,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Northeast Wisconsin Technical College one of the best values for project management. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $16,134. Project Management graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $40,091 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,134 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne County Community College District earned it the #4 place for project management. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Project Management graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District generally make around $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Parkside one of the best values for project management. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, while out-of-state students pay about $17,429. Project Management graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans. Project Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #6 spot for project management value this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Project Management graduates carry a median of $15,120 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $39,337. Set against $15,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid State Technical College earned the #7 position for value in project management this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,044 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $47,268 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #8 spot for project management value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $23,591. Early-career project management graduates make about $48,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for project management. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $19,500. Early-career project management graduates make about $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Oakland University landed the #10 spot for project management value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Project Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $76,869. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global placed #11 among the best values for project management. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Project Management graduates carry a median of $25,797 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $63,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $24,949. Early-career project management graduates make about $47,454. Set against $24,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Project Management graduates carry a median of $24,564 in student loans. Project Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $55,477 early in their careers. Set against $24,564 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $73,190. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
Central Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Project Management graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $65,735. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Grand Valley State University came in at #16 for value in project management this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $57,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #17 spot for project management value this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $42,138. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $70,748. Set against $42,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois State University placed #18 among the best values for project management. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $17,500. Early-career project management graduates make about $68,181. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University earned the #19 position for value in project management this year. Located in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,778. Students borrow a median of $23,437 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $52,842. That is a strong return on a $23,437 median debt. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
Davenport University came in at #20 for value in project management this year. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,466. Students borrow a median of $27,898 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Davenport University earn a median of $61,012 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Davenport University admits about 98% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #21 among the best values for project management. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Project Management graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $64,346 early in their careers. Set against $18,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Roosevelt University earned the #22 position for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College came in at #23 for value in project management this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $62,290 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Herzing University Madison landed the #24 spot for project management value this year. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,450 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $42,800 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $45,690 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $42,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Indiana Institute Of Technology earned the #25 position for value in project management this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,361. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $36,710. Early-career project management graduates make about $74,375. Set against $36,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Project Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in project management:
Narrow Project Management Schools by State
More Project Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
