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Featured International Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value International Studies Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Studies Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 list of the best value international studies schools in Michigan. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $15,053 to complete the international studies program here. International Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $44,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,053 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international studies schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. International Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career international studies graduates make about $32,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Students looking for strong value in international studies will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the international studies program here. International Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $38,410 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
[International Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
