2026 Best Value Professional Sales Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Professional Sales](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/sales-merchandising-marketing-ops/professional-sales/) 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 48 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for professional sales students.
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2026 Best Value Professional Sales Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in professional sales, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Professional Sales Schools
Leading the list is Lake Land College, our #1 best value for professional sales in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Professional Sales graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $30,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washtenaw Community College earned it the #2 place for professional sales. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, professional sales degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Joliet Junior College one of the best values for professional sales. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the professional sales program here. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value professional sales schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the professional sales program here. Soon after graduation, professional sales degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value professional sales schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Professional Sales graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $44,020. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College landed the #6 spot for professional sales value this year. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the professional sales program here. Professional Sales graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Set against $19,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #7 for value in professional sales this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $13,669. Professional Sales graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. Set against $13,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Global earned the #8 position for value in professional sales this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $36,778. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $54,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami University Hamilton earned the #9 position for value in professional sales this year. Set in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,012, while out-of-state students pay about $18,811. Students borrow a median of $23,763 to complete the professional sales program here. Professional Sales graduates of Miami University Hamilton earn a median of $44,428 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,763 median debt.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for professional sales value this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $19,402. Soon after graduation, professional sales degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $62,580. Set against $19,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #11 position for value in professional sales this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $21,630. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $57,760. That is a strong return on a $21,630 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Ball State University earned the #12 position for value in professional sales this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Professional Sales graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, professional sales degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $65,184. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for professional sales. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Professional Sales graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, professional sales degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #14 for value in professional sales this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for professional sales graduates is $25,000. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $57,169. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Miami University Oxford placed #15 among the best values for professional sales. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the professional sales program here. Early-career professional sales graduates make about $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
