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2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

60 Ranked Colleges
3,130 Degrees Awarded
Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 31st most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,130 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 60 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 258 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,450 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Education Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 124 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $10,481 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, 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 96%.

Read more about General Education at U-M

3

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 #3 for the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 233 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,505 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIUC.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign General Education Report

4
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Beloit College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Beloit, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Beloit, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Beloit College is $10,850 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 General Education at Beloit

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 281 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Ohio State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus General Education Report

6

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 239 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,277 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend GVSU.

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%.

Full GVSU General Education Report

7

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,398 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn

8
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 206 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $9,405 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Education at Ivy Tech Community College

9

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 2 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Indiana University - Bloomington

10
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

Stark State College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stark State College is a fairly large school located in North Canton, Ohio that handed out 39 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Stark State College is $8,660 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Stark State College General Education Report

11

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. UW - Stout is a medium-sized school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin that handed out 89 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stout did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,247 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout

12

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 75 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Green Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,258 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Green Bay.

Read full report on General Education at UW - Green Bay

13
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 186 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Michigan State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $20,557 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State General Education Report

14

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 148 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, UWM has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,606 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Education at UWM

15

Purdue University Northwest landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $12,829 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Education at Purdue Northwest

16

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Michigan - Flint is a medium-sized school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 47 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Flint is $13,218 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Education at University of Michigan - Flint

17
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 13 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan also took the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $14,547 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Education at Eastern Michigan University

18
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Concordia University, Chicago has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,903 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 General Education at Concordia University, Chicago

19
Alverno crest
Alverno College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #19, Alverno College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Alverno College is $18,834 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Education at Alverno College

20

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,560 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Education at UW - Stevens Point

21

University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. UW - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,699 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Read more about General Education at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

22
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Valpo has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,256 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Valpo.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Valparaiso University General Education Report

23
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $14,265 for great lakes region general education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Saginaw Valley State University General Education Report

24
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Elmhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $18,435 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Elmhurst University General Education Report

25
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Denison University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Denison is located in Granville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Denison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Denison is $18,607 for Great Lakes Region General Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Denison General Education Report

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