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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

34 Ranked Colleges
1,790 Degrees Awarded
$25,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 53,722 people earned their degree in computer science, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,561 and had an average of $23,565 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,241 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,976 and $24,610 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,790 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in computer science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent computer science 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 computer science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s 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 masters’s compsci degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 164 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.

Read more about Computer Science at UChicago

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 384 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#4

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 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s 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 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purdue has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Computer Science Report

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 78 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Computer Science Report

#9 in overall quality

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996.

Full Michigan Tech Computer Science Report

#23 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#8 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 88 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read full report on Computer Science at UIC

#9

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#25 in overall quality

Purdue University Northwest came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue Northwest, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Northwest are $11,633, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue Northwest Computer Science Report

With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Computer Science Report

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204.

Read full report on Computer Science at Ball State

#12

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue University Fort Wayne is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PFW, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full PFW Computer Science Report

#13

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 135 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at UIS

#14

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lewis University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 35 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Lewis also took the #11 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis are $14,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Lewis University Computer Science Report

#4 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 39 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Case Western Computer Science Report

#16

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 12 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Read full report on Computer Science at Franklin University

#17

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Governors State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Governors State University Computer Science Report

#18

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 65 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, NIU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at NIU

#19

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#20 in overall quality

Central Michigan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 11 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Read full report on Computer Science at Central Michigan University

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928.

Read full report on Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#21

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #19 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UWM Computer Science Report

#22

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, WMU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at Western Michigan University

#23

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this fairly large public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at Indiana State

#24

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 18 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552.

Full Eastern Michigan University Computer Science Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 12 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Akron Main Campus

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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