2026 Best Value Southeast Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Southeast Asian Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/southeast-asian-studies/) 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 4 schools to find the best return on investment for southeast asian studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Southeast Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in southeast asian studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Southeast Asian Studies Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 list of the best value southeast asian studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for southeast asian studies graduates is $16,984. Soon after graduation, southeast asian studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $16,984 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee one of the best values for southeast asian studies. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete the southeast asian studies program here. Soon after graduation, southeast asian studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,561. Set against $25,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in southeast asian studies will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Southeast Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans. Early-career southeast asian studies graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $20,850 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value southeast asian studies schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Southeast Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career southeast asian studies graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Southeast Asian Studies Schools by State
More Southeast Asian Studies Rankings
View All Southeast Asian Studies 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.
