2026 Best Value International Business Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Business](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/international-business/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international business education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 102 schools to find the best return on investment for international business students.
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2026 Best Value International Business Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Business Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #1 spot for value among international business schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for international business. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. International Business graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career international business graduates make about $66,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business, landing the #3 spot 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. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $25,500. International Business 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. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value international business schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Students borrow a median of $20,475 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $49,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned it the #5 place for international business. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $22,574. International Business 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. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value international business schools. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. International Business graduates carry a median of $24,397 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $58,746. That is a strong return on a $24,397 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Cleveland State University came in at #7 for value in international business this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. 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 came in at #8 for value in international business this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. International Business graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. International Business graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $57,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #9 for value in international business this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. International Business graduates carry a median of $26,112 in student loans. Early-career international business graduates make about $42,826. Set against $26,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #10 for value in international business this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $19,059. Early-career international business graduates make about $52,491. That is a strong return on a $19,059 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Madonna University came in at #11 for value in international business this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,440. International Business graduates carry a median of $26,896 in student loans. International Business graduates of Madonna University earn a median of $56,984 early in their careers. Set against $26,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for international business value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the international business program here. Early-career international business graduates make about $57,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for international business value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $53,188 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Valparaiso University landed the #14 spot for international business value this year. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,724 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of Valparaiso University earn a median of $51,987 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valparaiso University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for international business. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $21,942. International Business graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $51,599 early in their careers. Set against $21,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Northwood University Michigan landed the #16 spot for international business value this year. Located in the city of Midland, Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $25,344. International Business graduates of Northwood University Michigan earn a median of $50,791 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwood University Michigan admits about 64% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford came in at #17 for value in international business this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. International Business graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Early-career international business graduates make about $49,700. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Loyola University Chicago placed #18 among the best values for international business. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $55,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Denison University came in at #19 for value in international business this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,000. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $26,960. Early-career international business graduates make about $53,516. That is a strong return on a $26,960 median debt. Denison University admits about 17% of applicants.
Butler University earned the #20 position for value in international business this year. 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. International Business graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. International Business graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
