2026 Best Value International Business/Trade/Commerce Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Business/Trade/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/international-business/international-business-trade-commerce/) 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 102 schools to find the best return on investment for international business/trade/commerce students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value International Business/Trade/Commerce Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international business/trade/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Business/Trade/Commerce Schools
For return on investment in international business/trade/commerce, no school beat University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the international business/trade/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business/trade/commerce, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $66,591. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international business/trade/commerce will find it at Augustana College Illinois, which ranked #3. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $37,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the best values for international business/trade/commerce. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Students borrow a median of $20,475 to complete the international business/trade/commerce program here. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $49,463. That is a strong return on a $20,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business/trade/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete the international business/trade/commerce program here. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Set against $22,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University placed #6 among the best values for international business/trade/commerce. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,397 in student loans. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $58,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Cleveland State University placed #7 among the best values for international business/trade/commerce. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $49,648. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value international business/trade/commerce schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $27,000. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $57,678 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #9 among the best values for international business/trade/commerce. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,112 to complete the international business/trade/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $42,826. That is a strong return on a $26,112 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #10 position for value in international business/trade/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $19,059. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $52,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,059 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Madonna University landed the #11 spot for international business/trade/commerce value this year. Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Livonia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $26,896. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. That is a strong return on a $26,896 median debt. Madonna University admits about 63% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for international business/trade/commerce value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $57,396 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in international business/trade/commerce this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $53,188. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Valparaiso University landed the #14 spot for international business/trade/commerce value this year. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,450. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $26,724. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Valparaiso University earn a median of $51,987 early in their careers. Set against $26,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value international business/trade/commerce schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,942 to complete the international business/trade/commerce program here. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $51,599. That is a strong return on a $21,942 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Northwood University Michigan earned the #16 position for value in international business/trade/commerce this year. Set in the city of Midland, Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,400. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $25,344 in student loans. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $50,791. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford placed #17 among the best values for international business/trade/commerce. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international business/trade/commerce degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #18 for value in international business/trade/commerce this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $25,000. International Business/trade/commerce graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $55,496 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Denison University came in at #19 for value in international business/trade/commerce this year. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,000. International Business/trade/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,960 in student loans. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $53,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University placed #20 among the best values for international business/trade/commerce. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $47,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international business/trade/commerce graduates is $25,351. Early-career international business/trade/commerce graduates make about $68,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 102 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
