2026 Best Value General Hospitality Administration/Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Hospitality Administration/Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/hospitality-administration-management-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 66 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools.
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2026 Best Value General Hospitality Administration/Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general hospitality administration/management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Hospitality Administration/Management Schools
Joliet Junior College tops our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general hospitality administration/management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for general hospitality administration/management graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $22,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #3 place for general hospitality administration/management. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general hospitality administration/management graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $27,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general hospitality administration/management will find it at Lake Michigan College, which ranked #5. Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Benton Harbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,445, with out-of-state students paying around $7,755. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Lake Michigan College generally make around $50,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College placed #6 among the best values for general hospitality administration/management. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $44,279. Set against $16,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Youngstown State University earned the #7 position for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $25,687 in student loans. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $28,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for general hospitality administration/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. Typical student debt for general hospitality administration/management graduates is $25,001. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $32,337. Set against $25,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Ferris State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $33,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Central Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/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. Typical student debt for general hospitality administration/management graduates is $29,000. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $37,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University came in at #11 for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $24,148 in student loans. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $28,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
National Louis University came in at #12 for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $28,491 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $42,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,491 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #13 for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Students borrow a median of $25,225 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $43,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for general hospitality administration/management value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $36,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #15 for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $25,112 in student loans. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $31,926 early in their careers. Set against $25,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the general hospitality administration/management program here. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $41,069 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University came in at #17 for value in general hospitality administration/management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Typical student debt for general hospitality administration/management graduates is $23,916. Early-career general hospitality administration/management graduates make about $35,871. Set against $23,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Depaul University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general hospitality administration/management schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. General Hospitality Administration/management graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general hospitality administration/management degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $34,722. That is a strong return on a $16,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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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 · 66 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.
