2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/energy-systems/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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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
Ivy Tech Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Heartland Community College one of the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $13,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,266 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #3 place for value. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Students borrow a median of $20,308 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $67,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $46,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 42 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.
