2026 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Pharmacy](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/pharmacy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pharmacy schools.
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2026 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmacy Schools
Ferris State University tops our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $113,856. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the best values for pharmacy. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the pharmacy program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $91,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $19,046. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $71,787. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $119,267. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for pharmacy. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $15,775 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $74,688 early in their careers. Set against $15,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Chicago State University came in at #6 for value in pharmacy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Chicago State University generally make around $69,635. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $94,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Wayne State University landed the #8 spot for pharmacy value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $26,689. Pharmacy graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $102,554 early in their careers. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for pharmacy value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $91,031 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Toledo came in at #10 for value in pharmacy this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the pharmacy program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $72,951. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Manchester College landed the #11 spot for pharmacy value this year. Located in the town of North Manchester, Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,135. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $25,833. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Manchester College generally make around $112,524. Set against $25,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Manchester College admits about 71% of applicants.
Roosevelt University came in at #12 for value in pharmacy this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $23,879. Pharmacy graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $97,844 early in their careers. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for pharmacy. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $103,717 early in their careers. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The University Of Findlay came in at #14 for value in pharmacy this year. Set in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,164. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of The University Of Findlay earn a median of $84,147 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,759 median debt. The University Of Findlay admits about 83% of applicants.
Cedarville University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $80,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Ohio Northern University landed the #16 spot for pharmacy value this year. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the pharmacy program here. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $75,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #17 among the best values for pharmacy. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,172 to complete the pharmacy program here. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $101,885. That is a strong return on a $27,172 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Butler University landed the #18 spot for pharmacy value this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $25,351. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $116,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
