2026 Best Value Orthodontics/Orthodontology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Orthodontics/Orthodontology](/majors/health-care-professions/advanced-dentistry-oral-sciences/orthodontics-orthodontology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value orthodontics/orthodontology schools.
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2026 Best Value Orthodontics/Orthodontology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in orthodontics/orthodontology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Orthodontics/Orthodontology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for orthodontics/orthodontology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the orthodontics/orthodontology program here. Soon after graduation, orthodontics/orthodontology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $247,072. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for orthodontics/orthodontology. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the orthodontics/orthodontology program here. Soon after graduation, orthodontics/orthodontology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $242,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in orthodontics/orthodontology will find it at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Orthodontics/orthodontology graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Early-career orthodontics/orthodontology graduates make about $199,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in orthodontics/orthodontology will find it at Marquette University, which ranked #4. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete the orthodontics/orthodontology program here. Early-career orthodontics/orthodontology graduates make about $60,443. That is a strong return on a $24,122 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value orthodontics/orthodontology schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for orthodontics/orthodontology graduates is $25,106. Orthodontics/orthodontology graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.