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2023 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

60 Ranked Colleges
7,044 Degrees Awarded
$13,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 59,565 computer science students received their degree, making the major the 8th most popular in the country.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 7,044 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 60 colleges that offer a degree in computer science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer science 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 computer science 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 computer science 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 Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid”.

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. 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 Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
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 #1 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 572 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Computer Science at Purdue University - Main Campus

2

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 901 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 UIUC Computer Science Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 263 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid per year to attend IU Bloomington.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Computer Science at IU Bloomington

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 501 students in 2020-2021.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,214 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

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 University of Illinois at Chicago Computer Science Report

5
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ivy Tech Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Computer Science Report

6

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 87 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

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%.

Full IUPUI Computer Science Report

7

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 101 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan Tech, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $15,384 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

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 Tech Computer Science Report

8

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 225 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,034 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Illinois at Springfield

9
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 72 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $14,765 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

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 Computer Science at Ball State University

10
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Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Purdue University Fort Wayne is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,629 for great lakes region computer science students with aid per year to attend PFW.

Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Computer Science Report

11
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 227 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region computer science students with aid list, Northwestern has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $23,279 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Northwestern Computer Science Report

12

Youngstown State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Youngstown State University

13

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 38 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Computer Science Report

14

Indiana University - Northwest ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. IU Northwest is a public institution located in Gary, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Northwest is $6,363 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Full IU Northwest Computer Science Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 111 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Computer Science Report

16
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 71 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Computer Science at Central Michigan University

17

Purdue University Northwest came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Purdue Northwest

18

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualified ’s computer science students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at SIUE

19

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s computer science students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,417 for great lakes region computer science students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Computer Science Report

20
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Governors State University is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 120 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Governors State University is $10,436 for great lakes region computer science students with aid.

Read full report on Computer Science at Governors State University

21
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #21, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 32 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $7,201 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at Franklin University

22

With a ranking of #22, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. New Albany, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Southeast is $11,446 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Indiana University - Southeast

23
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Michigan is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid per year to attend Eastern Michigan.

Read more about Computer Science at Eastern Michigan

24
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 68 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

WMU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid per year to attend WMU.

Read more about Computer Science at WMU

24

With a ranking of #24, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students with aid.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Computer Science Report

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