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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

70 Ranked Colleges
4,220 Degrees Awarded
$14,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Computer Science is the 19th most popular major in the country with 53,722 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,220 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 70 colleges that offer a degree in computer science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great computer science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the computer science program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Computer Science Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

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

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 #1 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 291 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at UIUC

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 469 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #5 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,986 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Computer Science at Purdue University - Main Campus

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 bachelors’s compsci degrees to 258 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 142 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Computer Science at IU Bloomington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Northwest. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Northwest is a small public school situated in Gary, Indiana. It awarded 13 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Northwest is $7,755 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Indiana University - Northwest

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UIS is $12,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Computer Science Report

#7

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend Franklin University.

Read more about Computer Science at Franklin University

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 36 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Computer Science Report

#9

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 bachelors’s compsci degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,657 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.

Full Indiana University - Southeast Computer Science Report

#10

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 bachelors’s compsci degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $11,250 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Purdue Northwest

With a ranking of #11, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized school located in Houghton, Michigan that handed out 71 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan Tech, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $16,463 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan Tech Computer Science Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 2 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 93 degrees to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $11,285 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Full IUPUI Computer Science Report

#14

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 58 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $15,147 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Ball State University

#15

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend GSU is $12,077 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Full GSU Computer Science Report

#16

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 20 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $8,717 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Indiana University - South Bend

#17

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $15,718 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend UW - Platteville.

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,423 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#19

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. PFW is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 50 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,912 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend PFW.

Read more about Computer Science at PFW

#20

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 134 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $18,259 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Full NIU Computer Science Report

#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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree compsci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at UWM

#22

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $24,664 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 Northwestern Computer Science Report

#23

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for USI is $13,437 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

The school has an impressive 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 University of Southern Indiana

#24

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Lewis University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 98 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,664 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid per year to attend Lewis University.

The 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 Lewis Computer Science Report

#25

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $15,981 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students with aid.

Read more about Computer Science at Central Michigan University

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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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