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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Information Science in the Great Lakes Region

13 Ranked Colleges
969 Degrees Awarded
$27,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value IS Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

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 IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 18,368 people earned their degree in information science, making the major the 56th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $58,848 and had an average of $32,600 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,416 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $54,956 and $25,584 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 969 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in information science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality information science programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Information Science Schools

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

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree is students.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Information Science in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

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 IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 358 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read full report on Information Science at UIUC

#2

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bradley University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Bradley is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bradley, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley University are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Bradley University Information Science Report

#3

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, DePaul University landed the #3 spot on the list. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 82 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree is students list, DePaul has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Information Science at DePaul

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Akron Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 6 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Information 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 Akron Main Campus are $15,217.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Information Science Report

#5

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cleveland State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree is students list, Cleveland State University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cleveland State University Information Science Report

With a ranking of #6, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 12 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kent State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Information Science at Kent State University at Kent

#9 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Information Science at UM Dearborn

#7 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree is students list, UWM has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Information 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UWM Information Science Report

#9

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

University of Toledo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Information 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 University of Toledo are $27,067.

Read more about Information Science at University of Toledo

#10

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s IS degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Eastern Michigan University Information Science Report

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s IS degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Information 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 Ball State are $26,204.

Read more about Information Science at Ball State

#12

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 219 degrees to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Information 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read more about Information Science at U-M

#13

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 76 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern 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

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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