24
Ranked Colleges
2,411
Degrees Awarded
$17,000
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Information Science is the 58th most popular major in the country with 18,325 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $59,394 and had an average of $28,852 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,411 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,224 and $22,002 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great information 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 information science program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The is 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 IS 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value IS 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 #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 388 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Information 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 IS students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Information Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Ivy Tech Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 384 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region is students with aid list, Ivy Tech Community College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Read full report on Information Science at Ivy Tech Community College
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 51 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
Cuyahoga Community College District also took the #12 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid.
Read more about Information Science at Cuyahoga Community College District
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 390 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid per year to attend U-M.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Read more about Information Science at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 156 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,214 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid per year to attend UIC.
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 UIC Information Science Report
Northwestern University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 100 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $23,279 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read more about Information Science at Northwestern
University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.
UM Dearborn also took the #15 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,855 for great lakes region is students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Information Science Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 203 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM also took the #9 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Read more about Information Science at UWM
Michigan State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also made our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid.
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%.
Full Michigan State University Information Science Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 14 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Information Science Report
Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 7 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region is students with aid list, Wayne State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $13,962 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Read full report on Information Science at Wayne State University
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 55 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region is students with aid list, Ball State has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $14,765 for Great Lakes Region IS 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 Information Science at Ball State
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region is students with aid per year to attend GVSU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Information Science at Grand Valley State University
Cleveland State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.
Cleveland State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,943 for great lakes region is students with aid per year to attend Cleveland State University.
Read full report on Information Science at Cleveland State University
With a ranking of #15, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 7 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $15,127 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.
Read full report on Information Science at Eastern Michigan
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 28 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
BGSU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,558 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.
Full BGSU Information Science Report
University of Michigan - Flint came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 15 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
UM Flint did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UM Flint is $12,689 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid.
Full UM Flint Information Science Report
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region is students with aid list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Read full report on Information Science at University of Akron Main Campus
Saint Xavier University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. SXU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 8 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SXU, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SXU is $13,024 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Read more about Information Science at SXU
Northwood University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Midland, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s IS degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Northwood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwood is $21,257 for Great Lakes Region IS students with aid.
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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Information Science at Northwood
With a ranking of #21, Bradley University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region is students with aid list, Bradley has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $25,196 for great lakes region is students with aid per year to attend Bradley.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Bradley University Information Science Report
University of Chicago came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $28,517 for great lakes region is students with aid.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Chicago Information Science Report
DePaul University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 95 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $31,174 for great lakes region is students with aid.
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 Information Science at DePaul
Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s IS degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Roosevelt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt is $21,678 for great lakes region is students with aid.
Full Roosevelt Information Science Report
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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
- *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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