2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/philosphy-politics-and-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Value graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $45,196. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Wabash College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Wabash College earn a median of $40,138 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.
