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2023 Best Value Colleges for Finance & Financial Management (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

123 Ranked Colleges
9,758 Degrees Awarded
$8,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 57,778 people earned their degree in finance and financial management, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, finance and financial management graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $53,475 and had an average of $24,463 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,758 finance and financial management graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,044 and $24,671 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 123 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in finance and financial management. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great finance and financial management 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 and financial management program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Finance & Financial Management (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 123 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, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $245 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Northwestern Finance & Financial Management Report

2

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 Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 463 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Madison.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 & Financial Management at UW - Madison

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 276 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,995 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

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 & Financial Management at Purdue

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 123 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, Michigan State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 343 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Michigan State

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 $0-$30k list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 301 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame also took the #1 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad 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 Finance & Financial Management at Notre Dame

7

With a ranking of #7, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 767 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 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 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%.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Ohio State

8

With a ranking of #8, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $7,567 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Madison Area Technical College

9

With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 163 degrees to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $7,517 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. 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 UW - La Crosse Finance & Financial Management Report

10

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 94 students 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 more about Finance & Financial Management at University of Michigan - Dearborn

11
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 107 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $8,949 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Oakland Finance & Financial Management Report

12
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Western Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Technical College is a small school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 9 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,743 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Technical College.

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.

Full Western Technical College Finance & Financial Management Report

13

Miami University - Oxford ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 342 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Miami University - Oxford

14

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 261 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at University of Illinois at Chicago

15
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 78 degrees to qualified ’s finance students 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Ball State

16

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for MATC is $7,167 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full MATC Finance & Financial Management Report

17

Michigan Technological University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 23 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Technological University is $5,520 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

18

Grand Valley State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 280 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $10,259 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 & Financial Management at GVSU

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 112 diplomas to qualified ’s finance students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, UW - Eau Claire is in the top on our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Finance & Financial Management Report

20
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 92 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,805 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

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 full report on Finance & Financial Management at Central Michigan

21
FVTC crest
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FVTC is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s finance degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Fox Valley Technical College is $10,183 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Fox Valley Technical College

22

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 #22. UW - 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 estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $8,143 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at UW - Whitewater

23
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 15 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Finance & Financial Management at Ferris

24
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s finance degrees to 166 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k list, WMU has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Finance & Financial Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Western Michigan University

25

Purdue University Northwest ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Finance Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 37 ’s finance degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $6,775 for great lakes region finance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Finance & Financial Management at Purdue Northwest

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