2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Business Economics](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-managerial-economics/business-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong business economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for business economics students.
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2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the business economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Business Economics Schools
Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Business Economics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $61,979. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the business economics program here. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $53,536. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
The College Of Wooster is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,640. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete the business economics program here. Business Economics graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. Set against $25,936 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $16,616. Early-career business economics graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the business economics program here. Business Economics graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $55,300 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #6 for value in business economics this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $60,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #7 position for value in business economics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,666 to complete the business economics program here. Early-career business economics graduates make about $53,682. That is a strong return on a $21,666 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the business economics program here. Early-career business economics graduates make about $53,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Dayton ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value business economics schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $24,548. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $55,871. That is a strong return on a $24,548 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University landed the #10 spot for business economics value this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete the business economics program here. Business Economics graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,614 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #11 for value in business economics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $21,574. Early-career business economics graduates make about $61,333. Set against $21,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 44 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.
