2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Michigan

[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general education schools.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #1 spot for value among general education schools in Michigan. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $60,795. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Flint one of the best values for general education. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Students borrow a median of $31,016 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $57,003 early in their careers. Set against $31,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for general education. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $61,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Grand Valley State University one of the best values for general education. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $29,364 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $50,235. Set against $29,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,000. General Education graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $49,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.