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2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

14 Ranked Colleges
320 Degrees Awarded
$11,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Ecology 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. 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 Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 7,312 people earned their degree in ecology, evolution and systematics biology, making the major the 103rd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, ecology, evolution and systematics biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,807 and had an average of $31,265 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 654 ecology, evolution and systematics biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,675 and $31,209 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 320 ecology, evolution and systematics biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in ecology, evolution and systematics biology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality ecology, evolution and systematics biology programs that also have a lower cost than 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 ecology, evolution and systematics biology program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Ecology 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Ecology 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 #1 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full U-M Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,367 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 95%.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 30 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full Michigan State Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $4,969 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Bloomington.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Indiana University - Bloomington

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $5,483 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Purdue

#6

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 10 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,207 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Ferris State University

#7

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ecology students in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Central Michigan

#8

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Western Michigan University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 25 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $13,021 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at WMU

#9

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WLC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WLC is $14,327 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Wisconsin Lutheran College Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 11 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western also took the #9 spot in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Case Western Reserve University is $18,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Case Western

#11

DePauw University

Greencastle, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

DePauw University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DePauw University is a small school located in Greencastle, Indiana that handed out 6 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

DePauw not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,008 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePauw.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at DePauw

#12

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#6 in overall quality

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Dayton is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 24 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

UDayton also made our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Dayton is $24,237 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 91%.

Full University of Dayton Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report

#11 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $17,584 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#14

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $15,806 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree ecology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Olivet Nazarene 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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