2026 Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/occupational-health-and-industrial-hygiene/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong occupational health and industrial hygiene education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for occupational health and industrial hygiene students.
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2026 Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the occupational health and industrial hygiene degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools
Oakland University earned the #1 spot for value among occupational health and industrial hygiene schools in the Great Lakes Region. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $30,750. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $57,173 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Whitewater one of the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $45,767. That is a strong return on a $25,306 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Toledo earned it the #3 place for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $25,000. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $52,771. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in occupational health and industrial hygiene will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #4. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $59,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ohio University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational health and industrial hygiene, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $27,000. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $37,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $55,859. That is a strong return on a $28,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
