2026 Best Value Latin American Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Latin American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/latin-american-studies/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value latin american studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Latin American Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in latin american studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Latin American Studies Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2026 list of the best value latin american studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Latin American Studies graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Soon after graduation, latin american studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in latin american studies will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #2. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for latin american studies graduates is $21,710. Latin American Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Set against $21,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in latin american studies will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Latin American Studies graduates carry a median of $22,050 in student loans. Soon after graduation, latin american studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a great value for students pursuing a degree in latin american studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete the latin american studies program here. Early-career latin american studies graduates make about $49,911. That is a strong return on a $22,574 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value latin american studies schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the latin american studies program here. Latin American Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago placed #6 among the best values for latin american studies. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the latin american studies program here. Latin American Studies graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #7 position for value in latin american studies this year. 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. Typical student debt for latin american studies graduates is $20,552. Soon after graduation, latin american studies degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $50,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Oberlin College earned the #8 position for value in latin american studies this year. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,366. Latin American Studies graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Latin American Studies graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
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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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.