2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
For return on investment in economics, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,690. Early-career economics graduates make about $68,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Economics graduates carry a median of $28,381 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $49,665 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Oakland University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,681. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $50,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Albion College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $48,756. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University came in at #6 for value in economics this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $53,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University landed the #7 spot for economics value this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $22,608. Early-career economics graduates make about $40,508. That is a strong return on a $22,608 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the economics program here. 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.
Kalamazoo College earned the #9 position for value in economics this year. Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Kalamazoo College earn a median of $42,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kalamazoo College admits about 75% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #10 for value in economics this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,250. Economics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,013 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
