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2023 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region

60 Ranked Colleges
7,044 Degrees Awarded
$15,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 60 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the computer science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Computer Science Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region

1
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 #1 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 44 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students.

Read more about Computer Science at Ivy Tech Community College

2
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 572 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region computer science students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Computer Science Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students.

Read full report on Computer Science at SIUE

4
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #4 spot on the 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region computer science students list, Central Michigan has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,007 for great lakes region computer science students per year to attend Central Michigan.

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 Computer Science Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Youngstown State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 35 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students per year to attend Youngstown State University.

Read more about Computer Science at Youngstown State University

6

Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

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

Full NIU Computer Science Report

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 901 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,321 for great lakes region computer science students per year to attend UIUC.

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

8

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 38 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,092 for great lakes region computer science students per year to attend UW - Green Bay.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

9
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 91 students in 2020-2021.

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

Full Eastern Michigan Computer Science Report

10
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 68 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region computer science students list, WMU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Full Western Michigan University Computer Science Report

11

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 225 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at UIS

12

With a ranking of #12, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Kent State also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.

Full Kent State Computer Science Report

13
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a ranking of #13, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a medium-sized school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 66 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Fort Wayne is $11,629 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students.

Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Computer Science Report

14

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 111 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Full UWM Computer Science Report

15

With a ranking of #15, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students.

Read more about Computer Science at Purdue Northwest

16

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 501 ’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region computer science students.

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%.

Full UIC Computer Science Report

17
Davenport University crest
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Davenport University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Davenport University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 68 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Davenport University is $18,264 for great lakes region computer science students.

Full Davenport University Computer Science Report

18

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s computer science students in 2020-2021.

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

Read more about Computer Science at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

19

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 49 ’s computer science degrees in 2020-2021.

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

Read more about Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

20
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $36,434 for great lakes region computer science students per year to attend Loyola Chicago.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Computer Science at Loyola Chicago

21
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Franklin University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 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.

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 Computer Science at Franklin University

22
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GSU is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 120 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,436 for Great Lakes Region Computer Science students per year to attend GSU.

Full GSU Computer Science Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for great lakes region computer science students.

Full OHIO Athens Computer Science Report

24

Illinois State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer science degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for great lakes region computer science 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%.

Full Illinois State University Computer Science Report

25

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 133 diplomas to qualified ’s computer science students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $14,590 for great lakes region computer science students.

Read more about Computer Science at Northeastern Illinois University

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