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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Business Economics in the Great Lakes Region

31 Ranked Colleges
633 Degrees Awarded
$19,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 6,169 people earned their degree in business economics, making the major the 121st most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 687 business economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 633 business economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 31 colleges that offered a degree in business economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality business economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the business economics 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

The business economics 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 Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Business Economics in the Great Lakes Region

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,423 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Business Economics Report

#2

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at Grand Valley State University

#3

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 4 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $16,210 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full WIU Business Economics Report

#4

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Youngstown State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $11,947 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

Full Youngstown State University Business Economics Report

#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,945 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Read more about Business Economics at SIUC

#6

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 4 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan University is $15,924 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full Eastern Michigan University Business Economics Report

#25 in overall quality

Wright State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus also took the #25 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $16,823 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Business Economics Report

#8

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $17,278 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full Cleveland State University Business Economics Report

Kent State University at Kent ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Kent State University at Kent is $18,885 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

Full Kent State University at Kent Business Economics Report

#10

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

Oakland University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

Oakland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $11,802 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

Read more about Business Economics at Oakland University

#18 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 17 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $22,906 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

Read more about Business Economics at OHIO Athens

#2 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 91 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

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%.

Full Ohio State Business Economics Report

#13

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Cedarville University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Cedarville, Ohio, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students list, Cedarville has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cedarville University is $21,727 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Cedarville Business Economics Report

#14

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized school located in University Center, Michigan that handed out 6 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $14,248 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

Read full report on Business Economics at Saginaw Valley State University

#15

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $25,358 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, 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 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Business Economics at Wheaton College Illinois

#16

Hope College

Holland, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Hope College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Hope is a small school located in Holland, Michigan that handed out 10 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Hope also made our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $26,562 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students per year to attend Hope College.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Business Economics at Hope College

#17

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Northwood University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Midland, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Northwood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwood University is $21,618 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

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

Read full report on Business Economics at Northwood

#18

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $25,634 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students per year to attend Bradley.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bradley University Business Economics Report

#19

Carroll University

Waukesha, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

Carroll University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Carroll U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carroll U also took the #17 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,355 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students per year to attend Carroll University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at Carroll University

#20

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Lewis University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lewis is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s business economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $18,664 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

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

Read full report on Business Economics at Lewis University

#6 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,323 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Business Economics at Miami University - Oxford

#22

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Benedictine University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Benedictine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Benedictine U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine University is $25,143 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

Read full report on Business Economics at Benedictine University

#23

University of Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana

University of Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $20,512 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students per year to attend University of Indianapolis.

Read full report on Business Economics at University of Indianapolis

#24

Capital University

Columbus, Ohio
#20 in overall quality

Capital University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Capital is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 12 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Capital did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Capital University is $22,642 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree business economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Read full report on Business Economics at Capital

#25

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

DePaul University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #11 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $30,090 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul Business Economics Report

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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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