2023 Best Value Colleges for Finance (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
117
Ranked Colleges
9,201
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 51,779 people earned their degree in finance, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,201 finance graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 117 colleges that offer a degree in finance. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great finance programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the finance program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Finance (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s finance degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $245 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Northwestern Finance Report
Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 351 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Finance Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 287 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC Finance Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 227 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Finance at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 343 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Finance 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Finance at Michigan State
With a ranking of #6, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 301 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame also took the #1 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,872 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Notre Dame.
The low undergrad 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Finance at Notre Dame
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 767 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Finance at Ohio State
Madison Area Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Madison Area Technical College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.
Madison College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Madison Area Technical College is $7,567 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Finance at Madison College
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 163 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse also took the #24 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $7,517 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Finance Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 93 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Finance at UM Dearborn
Oakland University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 107 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,949 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Finance at Oakland
Western Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $7,743 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Finance at Western Technical College
Miami University - Oxford ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 342 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for great lakes region finance 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Oxford Finance Report
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 261 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Finance Report
Ball State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Finance at Ball State University
Michigan Technological University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Michigan Tech is $5,520 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Michigan Technological University Finance Report
Grand Valley State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 280 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Finance at GVSU
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 112 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Finance at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Central Michigan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 79 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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 more about Finance at Central Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 186 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $8,143 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Finance at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
With a ranking of #21, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris State University.
Read more about Finance at Ferris
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 155 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $13,112 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Finance at Western Michigan University
Purdue University Northwest came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $6,775 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Finance at Purdue University Northwest
Wayne State University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 144 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wayne State Finance Report
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 241 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, Case Western has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,063 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Case Western.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Finance at Case Western Reserve University
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