by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/forensic-science-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Harper College this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Value graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Value graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $35,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #4. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $48,975. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Platteville one of the best values for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $24,780 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $38,013. Set against $24,780 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #7 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Value graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,673. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Madonna University landed the #8 spot for value value this year. Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Livonia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,896. Value graduates of Madonna University earn a median of $56,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,896 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Lewis University earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Value graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Value graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Value graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $51,202 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.