by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/digital-marketing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked College Of Dupage the best value for a degree in value in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,492. Early-career value graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,000. Early-career value graduates make about $69,994. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Aurora University earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Value graduates carry a median of $22,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $39,482. Set against $22,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.