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2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

117 Ranked Colleges
9,201 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Finance is the 11th most popular major in the country with 51,779 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,201 finance graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 117 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in finance. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent finance 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 finance program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The finance 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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Finance (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

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 $30-$48k 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. It costs about $917 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Northwestern Finance Report

2

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 351 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Finance at UW - Madison

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 227 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Finance at Purdue

4

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 287 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Finance Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 767 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Finance at Ohio State University - Main Campus

6
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 301 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,136 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Notre Dame.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, 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. 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 Notre Dame

7

Madison Area Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 13 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Madison College also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $8,473 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Full Madison College Finance Report

8
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $8,839 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad 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 Oakland University Finance Report

9
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Western Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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 $7,768 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Finance at Western Technical College

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 93 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,465 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UM Dearborn.

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 University of Michigan - Dearborn

11

With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - 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 made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $10,075 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Finance at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

12
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 343 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also made our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Finance at Michigan State

13

With a ranking of #13, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 261 ’s finance 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. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Finance Report

14

Michigan Technological University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $8,983 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Michigan Technological University Finance Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - 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 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $10,658 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Finance Report

16

Grand Valley State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 280 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,026 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read full report on Finance at Grand Valley State University

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 186 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,390 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Read more about Finance at UW - Whitewater

18
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 University is $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full Central Michigan Finance Report

19
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 78 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $10,786 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Read full report on Finance at Ball State University

20
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 144 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,414 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Finance at Wayne State University

21

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 37 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $8,608 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Purdue University Northwest Finance Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 48 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $9,972 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Youngstown State University Finance Report

23

Miami University - Oxford came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 342 degrees to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,062 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Read full report on Finance at Miami University - Oxford

24
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 41 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend SXU is $10,429 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Finance at Saint Xavier University

25
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of St Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $12,679 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Finance at University of Saint Francis

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