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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

105 Colleges in the United States
$23,816 Avg Student Debt
$57,688 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Badge [Finance & Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 176 schools to find the best return on investment for finance & financial management students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance & financial management degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools

1

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among finance & financial management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $11,384. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.

2

A rank of #2 makes Milwaukee Area Technical College one of the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $18,296. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned it the #3 place for finance & financial management. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $17,625. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $55,591 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.

5

Columbus State Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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James A Rhodes State College landed the #6 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $9,120. Students borrow a median of $17,070 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $47,074. Set against $17,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #7 position for value in finance & financial management this year. 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 finance & financial management graduates is $22,150. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $58,438 early in their careers. Set against $22,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.

8
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in finance & financial management this year. 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 finance & financial management graduates is $22,335. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,938. That is a strong return on a $22,335 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.

9

Northern Illinois University placed #9 among the best values for finance & financial management. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $54,802 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.

10

Millikin University came in at #10 for value in finance & financial management this year. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $26,036. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $58,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.

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Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $75,381 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.

13

Madison Area Technical College landed the #13 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Set against $16,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

Purdue University Northwest earned the #14 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,078. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $53,062. That is a strong return on a $23,078 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.

15

Augustana College Illinois earned the #15 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $39,096. That is a strong return on a $26,764 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.

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Youngstown State University earned the #16 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,935 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $44,973 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.

17

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $24,477 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $42,853. That is a strong return on a $24,477 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.

18
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University placed #18 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $54,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.

19
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University landed the #19 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $23,944 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $61,804. That is a strong return on a $23,944 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.

20

Saint Xavier University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,326. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,452 early in their careers. Set against $23,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.

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21

University Of Southern Indiana ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $43,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.

22
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University earned the #22 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $22,805 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $46,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,805 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.

23

Western Illinois University landed the #23 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $47,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.

24

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #24 for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. That is a strong return on a $24,161 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

25

University Of Wisconsin River Falls ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $24,245 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $47,577 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools

These schools also delivered strong value for finance & financial management this year:

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27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI
36
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN
37
38
39
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
Albion College crest
Albion College
Albion, MI
50

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 176 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 105 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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