2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education in the Great Lakes Region
60
Ranked Colleges
3,130
Degrees Awarded
$17,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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” ranking looked at 60 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region education students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Calvin University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
Calvin also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $26,082 for great lakes region education students per year to attend Calvin University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Read full report on General Education at Calvin University
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 239 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students 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 $17,356 for great lakes region education students.
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 more about General Education at GVSU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 89 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stout also took 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 $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
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
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 75 ’s education 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 $13,092 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Read full report on General Education at UW - Green Bay
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Baldwin Wallace University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Baldwin Wallace College is located in Berea, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Baldwin Wallace College also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace College is $25,361 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.
Read more about General Education at Baldwin Wallace College
With a ranking of #6, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Valpo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Valpo, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Valpo is $22,899 for great lakes region education students.
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 full report on General Education at Valparaiso University
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 206 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region education students.
Read more about General Education at Ivy Tech Community College
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 258 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on General Education at Purdue
Purdue University Northwest landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Read more about General Education at Purdue University Northwest
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 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 UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region education students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee General Education Report
The University of Findlay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. The University of Findlay is located in Findlay, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Findlay also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Findlay is $25,849 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
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 Findlay General Education Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 233 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for great lakes region education students.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on General Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #13, McKendree University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. McKendree University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for McKendree University is $19,956 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Full McKendree General Education Report
Stark State College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region 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 $5,963 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Full Stark State College General Education Report
With a ranking of #15, Muskingum University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in New Concord, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Muskingum is $18,561 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Full Muskingum University General Education Report
Spring Arbor University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Spring Arbor University is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $20,543 for Great Lakes Region Education students per year to attend Spring Arbor University.
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%.
Full Spring Arbor University General Education Report
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,956 for great lakes region education students per year to attend Northern Illinois University.
Full Northern Illinois University General Education Report
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,305 for Great Lakes Region Education students per year to attend Western Illinois University.
Read full report on General Education at Western Illinois University
University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is located in Platteville, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $14,565 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville General Education Report
Rockford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $24,103 for great lakes region education students per year to attend Rockford University.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about General Education at Rockford University
Kent State University at Kent ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 63 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Kent State also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State University at Kent is $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Full Kent State University at Kent General Education Report
Bluffton University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Bluffton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bluffton, Ohio. It awarded 11 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $23,407 for Great Lakes Region Education students per year to attend Bluffton.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Bluffton University General Education Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
Read full report on General Education at UW - Stevens Point
North Park University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for North Park is $18,282 for great lakes region education students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national 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.
Full North Park University General Education Report
With a ranking of #25, Edgewood College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Edgewood is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 45 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Edgewood is $25,261 for Great Lakes Region Education students.
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 full report on General Education at Edgewood
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