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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Michigan

1 Colleges in the United States
$23,835 Avg Student Debt
$68,605 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Applied Economics Badge [Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied economics education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value applied economics schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Michigan

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied economics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Applied Economics Schools

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best value for a degree in applied economics in Michigan. 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, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $19,690 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $68,416 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.

2

A rank of #2 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for applied economics. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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