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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Architecture & Related Services (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

18 Ranked Colleges
1,180 Degrees Awarded
$11,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Architecture & Related Services is the 28th most popular major in the country with 17,480 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, architecture and related services graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,294 and had an average of $39,729 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,984 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,365 and $35,581 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,180 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in architecture and related services. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent architecture and related services programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the architecture and related services program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $4,367 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, 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 95%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Architecture & Related Services Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,166 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U-M.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#3

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $12,498 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Notre Dame.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Notre Dame Architecture & Related Services Report

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,483 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Purdue Architecture & Related Services Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 91 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 133 degrees to qualified bachelors’s architecture and related services students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#7

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 65 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

Ball State also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,403 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Ball State

#9 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $10,648 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at University of Illinois at Chicago

#10 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 95 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #10 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,222 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#8 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,759 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Miami University - Oxford

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 36 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $13,658 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at SIUC

#13 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent State is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k list, Kent State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $13,915 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Kent State

#5 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 65 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Tech is $17,222 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Architecture & Related Services Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 103 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,078 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at UC

#15

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

University of Detroit Mercy ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Detroit Mercy also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Detroit Mercy is $13,879 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of Detroit Mercy

#16 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

BGSU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $14,521 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at BGSU

#17

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Judson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

Judson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,154 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Judson University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Judson University

#18

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Andrews University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It awarded 9 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k list, Andrews has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,868 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Andrews.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Andrews University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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