2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for applied psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Psychology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in applied psychology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Huntington University earned it the #2 place for applied psychology. Set in the town of Huntington, Huntington University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,870. Students borrow a median of $28,332 to complete the applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Huntington University generally make around $49,079. Set against $28,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Huntington University admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in applied psychology will find it at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global, which ranked #3. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $38,759. Applied Psychology graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $40,706 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,759 median debt.
Judson University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,297. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $27,685. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $45,486. Set against $27,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in applied psychology will find it at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $67,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Applied Psychology Schools by State
More Applied Psychology Rankings
View All Applied Psychology Rankings >
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 · 14 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.
