2026 Best Value Other Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Other Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for other economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Other Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Economics Schools
For return on investment in other economics, no school beat Purdue University Main Campus this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $24,700 in student loans. Early-career other economics graduates make about $59,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #2 place for other economics. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the other economics program here. Other Economics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,013 early in their careers. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valparaiso University earned it the #3 place for other economics. Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso. Students from in state pay about $48,450 in tuition and fees. Other Economics graduates carry a median of $26,724 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other economics degree recipients from Valparaiso University generally make around $51,987. Set against $26,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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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 · 7 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.
