2026 Best Value Behavioral Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Behavioral Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/behavioral-science/behavioral-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong behavioral sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for behavioral sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Behavioral Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the behavioral sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Behavioral Sciences Schools
For return on investment in behavioral sciences, no school beat Purdue University Northwest this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for behavioral sciences graduates is $16,012. Soon after graduation, behavioral sciences degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $28,340. That is a strong return on a $16,012 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vincennes University earned it the #2 place for behavioral sciences. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Typical student debt for behavioral sciences graduates is $11,371. Soon after graduation, behavioral sciences degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Set against $11,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in behavioral sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Behavioral Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral sciences degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in behavioral sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Behavioral Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career behavioral sciences graduates make about $50,590. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #5 place for behavioral sciences. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Behavioral Sciences graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Early-career behavioral sciences graduates make about $47,857. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carroll University landed the #6 spot for behavioral sciences value this year. Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waukesha. Students from in state pay about $38,890 in tuition and fees. Behavioral Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral sciences degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. That is a strong return on a $26,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral sciences schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for behavioral sciences graduates is $5,701. Behavioral Sciences graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 3 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.
