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2023 Best Value Colleges for Finance & Financial Management in the Great Lakes Region

125 Ranked Colleges
9,758 Degrees Awarded
$14,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Finance & Financial Management is the 14th most popular major in the country with 57,778 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, finance and financial management graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $53,475 and had an average of $24,463 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,758 finance and financial management graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,044 and $24,671 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 125 colleges that offered a degree in finance and financial management. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great finance and financial management programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the finance and financial management program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The finance school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region finance students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Finance & Financial Management in the Great Lakes Region

1
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Technical College is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Technical College is $10,279 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Western Technical College

2

Out of the 125 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #2 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Madison College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Madison Area Technical College is $10,053 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Full Madison College Finance & Financial Management Report

3

Out of the 125 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 6 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend MATC.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Milwaukee Area Technical College

4
FVTC crest
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fox Valley Technical College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend FVTC is $12,207 for great lakes region finance students.

Full FVTC Finance & Financial Management Report

5

Out of the 125 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #5 spot on the list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 163 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - La Crosse also took the #24 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at UW - La Crosse

6
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 92 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,007 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Central Michigan.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Central Michigan University

7

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 186 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

8

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 112 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW - Eau Claire also did well on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region finance students.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at UW - Eau Claire

9
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 166 students in 2020-2021.

WMU also took the #22 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at WMU

10

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at University of Akron Main Campus

11

Northern Illinois University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 92 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at NIU

12

With a ranking of #12, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 280 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

GVSU also made our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University Finance & Financial Management Report

13

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 70 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region finance students.

Full UW Oshkosh Finance & Financial Management Report

14

Youngstown State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend Youngstown State University.

Full Youngstown State University Finance & Financial Management Report

15
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 276 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also took the #7 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region finance students.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Purdue

16
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $17,051 for great lakes region finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Finance & Financial Management Report

17

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 220 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,831 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at OHIO Athens

18

Illinois State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 202 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,830 for great lakes region finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Finance & Financial Management Report

19

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 27 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at UW - Stevens Point

20
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ferris State University is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 15 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $12,213 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Ferris

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 203 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

22

Purdue University Northwest came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 37 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region finance students.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Purdue University Northwest

23
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 24 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Eastern Illinois University

24
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $7,201 for great lakes region finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Franklin University

25

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 31 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,285 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend SIUC.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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