2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
60
Ranked Colleges
3,130
Degrees Awarded
$11,000
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 41st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,130 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,937 and $23,962 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 60 colleges that offered a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank General Education Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 258 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,853 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about General Education at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 233 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
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. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,036 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 124 ’s education degrees 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, 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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at U-M
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 2 students 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 IU Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 281 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,581 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 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%.
Read full report on General Education at Ohio State
With a ranking of #6, Beloit College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Beloit, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,873 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Beloit.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full Beloit General Education Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 239 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k list, GVSU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $11,026 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full GVSU General Education Report
With a ranking of #8, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 206 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $6,820 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Ivy Tech Community College General Education Report
With a ranking of #9, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $10,465 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full UM Dearborn General Education Report
Michigan State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 186 students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Michigan State University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 89 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stout, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $10,958 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stout General Education Report
With a ranking of #12, Stark State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stark State College is a fairly large public school situated in North Canton, Ohio. It awarded 39 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $7,437 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Stark State College General Education Report
Purdue University Northwest landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $8,608 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Purdue Northwest General Education Report
Denison University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Denison is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Granville, Ohio. It awarded 18 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Denison also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,686 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Denison.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on General Education at Denison University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Green Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $9,445 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Education at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,952 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Flint.
Full UM Flint General Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 148 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $13,351 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Education at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Eastern Michigan University is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Michigan, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,265 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Read full report on General Education at Eastern Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 58 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,052 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Full UW - Stevens Point General Education Report
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Chicago, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $14,346 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Concordia University, Chicago General Education Report
With a ranking of #21, Alverno College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Alverno College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Alverno College is $16,842 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on General Education at Alverno
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 25 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $16,062 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Education at Miami University - Oxford
Valparaiso University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Valparaiso, Indiana, and it awarded 9 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Valpo also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,717 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Valpo.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Valparaiso University
University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $10,334 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Education at UW - Platteville
Marian University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Marian is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Marian is $13,146 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Marian University
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