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2024 Best Schools for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

392 Colleges
$6,699 Avg Net Price (With Aid)*
75% Discount Rate*

When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.

See What's Included in This Value Report:

Your Choice of School Matters

After analyzing 392 schools in the Great Lakes Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.

Our Methodology

The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price - the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.

To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.

Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.

Without Aid Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Degrees
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. If you'd rather work on your degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, you may want to check out our other college rankings.

If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.

Best Value Schools (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

Eastern Gateway Community College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Steubenville, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Gateway Community College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Ohio. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,270.

Read full value report on Eastern Gateway Community College

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list means Michigan State University is a great place for students working on their degree. This large public school is located in East Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan State University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,738 a year.

Learn More About Value at Michigan State University

3
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A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list means is a great place for students working on their degree.

Learn More About Value at

4
College of Lake County crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois

The quality degree programs at College of Lake County helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of Lake County is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,486.

Full College of Lake County Value Report

5

A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list means University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the school is a large public institution.

Not only is University of Wisconsin - Madison a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Wisconsin for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,484.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Value Report

6
MVCC crest
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, Illinois

Moraine Valley Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Moraine Valley Community College is ranked #48 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $1,831 a year.

Read full value report on Moraine Valley Community College

7
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Warren, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is Macomb Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,447 a year.

Learn More About Value at Macomb Community College

8
ECC crest
Elgin Community College
Elgin, Illinois

Elgin Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Elgin, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elgin Community College is ranked #29 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,140.

Learn More About Value at Elgin Community College

9
Washtenaw Community College crest
Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.

Washtenaw Community College has the honor of being ranked #26 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,857.

Full Washtenaw Community College Value Report

10
Fox College crest
Fox College
Tinley Park, Illinois

Fox College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Fox College is a small private for-profit school situated in Tinley Park, Illinois.

For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,890.

Full Fox College Value Report

11

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school located in Champaign, Illinois.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has the honor of being ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,272.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report

12
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana.

Indiana University - Bloomington has the honor of being ranked #3 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,386 a year.

Learn More About Value at Indiana University - Bloomington

13

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College a great value, but it is also ranked #39 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,068 a year.

Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

14
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Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Not only is Purdue University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Indiana for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $14,619 a year.

Learn More About Value at Purdue University - Main Campus

15

City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Olive-Harvey College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.

The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,670 a year.

Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College

16
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College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

College of DuPage did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the school is a large public institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of DuPage is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,440 a year.

Learn More About Value at College of DuPage

17

With a ranking of #17, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Wilbur Wright College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is ranked #52 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,439 a year.

Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College

18
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Not only is Ivy Tech Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Indiana for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,806.

Learn More About Value at Ivy Tech Community College

19
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Dearborn, Michigan.

Henry Ford College has the honor of being ranked #39 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,696.

Learn More About Value at Henry Ford College

20
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gateway Technical College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,378 a year.

Learn More About Value at Gateway Technical College

21

Sinclair Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Dayton, Ohio.

Not only is Sinclair Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Ohio for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,476.

Read full value report on Sinclair Community College

22
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Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Land Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Springfield, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lincoln Land Community College is ranked #45 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,604 a year.

Learn More About Value at Lincoln Land Community College

23
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Oakland Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Not only is Oakland Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Michigan for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,444 a year.

Learn More About Value at Oakland Community College

24
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South Suburban College
South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in South Holland, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.

South Suburban College has the honor of being ranked #44 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,021.

Full South Suburban College Value Report

25

With a ranking of #25, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,321.

Read full value report on Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Schools (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Harper College Crest
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
27
28
Oakton Community College Crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois
29
30
31
32
33

34

35
Midwestern Career College Crest
Midwestern Career College
Chicago, Illinois
36
Carl Sandburg College Crest
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, Illinois
37
38
Joliet Junior College Crest
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Illinois
39
40
Triton College Crest
Triton College
River Grove, Illinois
41
42
43
Delta College Crest
Delta College
University Center, Michigan

44

45
MCC Crest
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, Illinois
46
Western Technical College Crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin
47
CVTC Crest
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
48
LCC Crest
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan
49
Waubonsee Crest
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois
50

View Best Value Schools (With Aid) Nationwide >

Rest of the Top 15% Best Value Schools (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:

Rank College Location Value
51 Ball State University Muncie, IN Value Report
52 Black Hawk College Moline, IL Value Report
53 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI Value Report
54 Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Value Report
54 John Wood Community College Quincy, IL Value Report
56 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Value Report
57 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL Value Report
58 Indiana University - Southeast New Albany, IN Value Report
59 North Central State College Mansfield, OH Value Report

All Majors and Fields of Study >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:

Rank College Location Value
60 Clark State Community College Springfield, OH Value Report
61 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Value Report
62 Indiana University - Northwest Gary, IN Value Report
63 Kaskaskia College Centralia, IL Value Report
64 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI Value Report
65 Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI Value Report
66 Mott Community College Flint, MI Value Report
67 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Value Report
68 Muskegon Community College Muskegon, MI Value Report
69 Richland Community College Decatur, IL Value Report
70 Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MI Value Report
71 Lake Land College Mattoon, IL Value Report
72 City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL Value Report
73 Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI Value Report
74 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Value Report
Rank College Location Value
75 University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MI Value Report
76 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN Value Report
77 Kent State University at Stark North Canton, OH Value Report
78 Monroe County Community College Monroe, MI Value Report
79 Stark State College North Canton, OH Value Report

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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