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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Value](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

Macomb Community College
Warren, MI

$3,660 In-State Tuition & Fees

$9,862 Avg Student Debt

$41,596 Median Earnings (10yr)

Macomb Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Value graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN

$10,101 In-State Tuition & Fees

$36,778 Avg Student Debt

$36,596 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Purdue University Global, which ranked #2. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $36,778. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,278. That is a strong return on a $36,778 median debt.

View All Value Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.