2026 Best Value Financial Planning & Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Financial Planning & Services](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/financial-planning-and-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong financial planning & services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for financial planning & services students.
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2026 Best Value Financial Planning & Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in financial planning & services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Financial Planning & Services Schools
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among financial planning & services schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for financial planning & services graduates is $22,335. Early-career financial planning & services graduates make about $59,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in financial planning & services will find it at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value financial planning & services schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for financial planning & services graduates is $22,150. Early-career financial planning & services graduates make about $62,536. That is a strong return on a $22,150 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a great value for students pursuing a degree in financial planning & services, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for financial planning & services. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $95,742. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in financial planning & services this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $23,900 in student loans. Financial Planning & Services graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $55,946 early in their careers. Set against $23,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University placed #7 among the best values for financial planning & services. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for financial planning & services graduates is $26,672. Early-career financial planning & services graduates make about $60,023. That is a strong return on a $26,672 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #8 among the best values for financial planning & services. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $26,031 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $50,787. Set against $26,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in financial planning & services this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Michigan State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value financial planning & services schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $68,103. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University came in at #11 for value in financial planning & services this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Early-career financial planning & services graduates make about $50,101. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Adrian College came in at #12 for value in financial planning & services this year. Adrian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,684. Financial Planning & Services graduates carry a median of $28,071 in student loans. Financial Planning & Services graduates of Adrian College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin University placed #13 among the best values for financial planning & services. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,577 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,949 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Financial Planning & Services graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $61,645 early in their careers. Set against $33,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bradley University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value financial planning & services schools. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Students borrow a median of $20,905 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Financial Planning & Services graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,261 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Calvin College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value financial planning & services schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Students borrow a median of $22,707 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Early-career financial planning & services graduates make about $44,220. Set against $22,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
John Carroll University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value financial planning & services schools. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the financial planning & services program here. Soon after graduation, financial planning & services degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $55,590. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. John Carroll University admits about 81% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #17 for value in financial planning & services this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for financial planning & services graduates is $23,000. Financial Planning & Services graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
