2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Community Health and Preventive Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/community-health-and-preventive-medicine/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for community health and preventive medicine students.
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2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the community health and preventive medicine degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools
Leading the list is South Suburban College, our #1 best value for community health and preventive medicine in the Great Lakes Region. South Suburban College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of South Holland. In-state tuition and fees average $5,093, compared with $12,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $7,904. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of South Suburban College earn a median of $42,425 early in their careers. Set against $7,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for community health and preventive medicine. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $22,220. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $51,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in community health and preventive medicine will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #3. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $23,000. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $36,537 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in community health and preventive medicine, landing the #4 spot this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $20,678 in student loans. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $48,900 early in their careers. Set against $20,678 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #6 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $19,689 in student loans. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $49,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $24,293. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $43,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #8 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $41,585. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $60,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #10 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #11 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,574 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #12 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #13 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $28,625. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $55,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University placed #14 among the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
