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2023 Best Value Colleges for Finance in the Great Lakes Region

119 Ranked Colleges
9,201 Degrees Awarded
$15,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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” ranking, we looked at 119 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Finance in the Great Lakes Region

1
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Technical College is a small public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Technical College is $10,279 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

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.

Full Western Technical College Finance Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison 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 $10,053 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Read full report on Finance at Madison College

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region 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 yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Finance Report

4
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Michigan University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 79 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Finance at Central Michigan University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 186 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance at UW - Whitewater

6

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 112 degrees to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region finance students.

Read more about Finance at UW - Eau Claire

7
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 155 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students list, WMU has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for great lakes region finance students.

Full Western Michigan University Finance Report

8

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,945 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on Finance at University of Akron Main Campus

9

With a ranking of #9, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 92 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for great lakes region finance students.

Read more about Finance at Northern Illinois University

10

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 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 $17,356 for great lakes region finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University Finance Report

11

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 70 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Read more about Finance at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

12

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,225 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Youngstown State University.

Read more about Finance at Youngstown State University

13
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. 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 University - Main Campus

14
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $17,051 for great lakes region finance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Finance at Concordia University, Chicago

15

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 210 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $23,831 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance at OHIO Athens

16

Illinois State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 202 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students list, Illinois State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

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 Illinois State Finance Report

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $13,346 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Read full report on Finance at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

18
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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 $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Finance students per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read more about Finance at Ferris State University

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 201 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $17,486 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend UWM.

Read full report on Finance at UWM

20

With a ranking of #20, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue 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 University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region finance students.

Read full report on Finance at Purdue University Northwest

21
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 24 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region finance students.

Read more about Finance at EIU

22
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s finance degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,201 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Franklin University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 more about Finance at Franklin University

23

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 31 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,285 for great lakes region finance students.

Full SIUC Finance Report

24

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 64 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region Finance students.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Finance Report

25
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 62 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,127 for great lakes region finance students per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.

Full Eastern Michigan Finance Report

Notes and References

References

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