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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in the Great Lakes Region

33 Ranked Colleges
1,408 Degrees Awarded
$15,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Education 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. 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 General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 28th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,216 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,408 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 33 colleges that offer a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education programs, but they also 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. 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 General Education 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 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aquinas College Michigan landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 20 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Aquinas College Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Education 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 Aquinas College Michigan are $11,184.

Full Aquinas College Michigan General Education Report

#2

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 63 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stout also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW - Stout General Education Report

#3

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students list, Concordia University, Chicago has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Education 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 Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378.

Read more about General Education at Concordia University, Chicago

#4

Greenville University

Greenville, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Greenville University landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Greenville, Illinois, and it awarded 2 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Greenville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Greenville University are $8,082, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Greenville General Education Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Baldwin Wallace University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Berea, Ohio, and it awarded 9 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students list, Baldwin Wallace College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baldwin Wallace College are $11,191, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Baldwin Wallace College

#6 in overall quality

The University of Findlay landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. The University of Findlay is a small school located in Findlay, Ohio that handed out 73 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Findlay also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Findlay are $17,407, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Findlay

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full GVSU General Education Report

#8

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Valparaiso, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students list, Valpo has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Education 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 Valparaiso University are $12,220.

Full Valpo General Education Report

#9

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

McKendree University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lebanon, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

McKendree not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at McKendree University are $9,324, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full McKendree General Education Report

#10

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 186 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Education Report

#11

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#24 in overall quality

Cedarville University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cedarville University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedarville, Ohio. It awarded 5 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cedarville, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Education 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 Cedarville University are $9,065.

Full Cedarville University General Education Report

#12

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Purdue University Northwest came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Purdue Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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 General Education Report

#1 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 169 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best General Education 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about General Education at UIUC

#14

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 14 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at WIU

#15

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education 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 Wisconsin - Platteville are $18,226.

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

#16

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Rockford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rockford, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rockford University are $13,255, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Rockford University General Education Report

#17

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086.

Full Northern Illinois University General Education Report

With a ranking of #18, Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Steubenville, Ohio, and it awarded 13 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franciscan University of Steubenville are $12,888.

Full Franciscan U General Education Report

#19

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#23 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stevens Point are $19,178, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at UW - Stevens Point

#21 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Flint is located in Flint, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

UM Flint also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202.

Read more about General Education at UM Flint

#21

Edgewood College

Madison, Wisconsin
#18 in overall quality

Edgewood College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Edgewood College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students list, Edgewood has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Edgewood are $18,576, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Edgewood College

#22

Bluffton University

Bluffton, Ohio

Bluffton University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Bluffton, Ohio, and it awarded 9 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Bluffton University are $13,815, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Bluffton University

#23

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Quincy University are $12,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Quincy University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 31 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students list, UM Dearborn has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Education 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 UM Dearborn are $25,072.

Read more about General Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn

#25

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SXU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SXU are $15,450.

Read full report on General Education at SXU

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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