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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
University Of Akron Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $49,045 early in their careers. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Madonna University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,896 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Set against $26,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Narrow Value Schools by State
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/law-enforcement-intelligence-analysis/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
