2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Dentistry](/majors/health-care-professions/dentistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dentistry schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dentistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dentistry Schools
Our analysis ranked Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis the best value for a degree in dentistry in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $23,146. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $132,026. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in dentistry will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Dentistry graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $131,656 early in their careers. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dentistry schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $23,917. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $154,408. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dentistry will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Dentistry graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $118,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Detroit Mercy one of the best values for dentistry. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the dentistry program here. Dentistry graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $132,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,053 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dentistry schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $22,053. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $196,523. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Marquette University earned the #7 position for value in dentistry this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Dentistry graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $139,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #8 for value in dentistry this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $25,106. Early-career dentistry graduates make about $92,420. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Dentistry Schools by State
View All Dentistry Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
