2027 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Urban Education & Leadership](/majors/education/educational-administration/urban-education-and-leadership/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for urban education & leadership students.
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2027 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in urban education & leadership, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in urban education & leadership in the Great Lakes Region. 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. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #2 place for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban education & leadership, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern Illinois University earned it the #4 place for urban education & leadership. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $82,842 early in their careers. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban education & leadership, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $39,662 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $48,310. Set against $39,662 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Davenport University earned the #6 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,466. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $30,603 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from Davenport University generally make around $55,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Davenport University admits about 98% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for urban education & leadership value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $25,213. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $73,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Rockford College placed #8 among the best values for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,780 in tuition and fees. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $28,094 in student loans. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Rockford College earn a median of $73,751 early in their careers. Set against $28,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
