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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

180 Ranked Colleges
16,211 Degrees Awarded
$7,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 43,513 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,643 and $27,857 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 16,211 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 180 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that 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 education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 180 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 26 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Education at Northwestern University

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 77 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $3,166 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Education Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 230 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 95%.

Read more about Education at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 190 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Education Report

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 253 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,483 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Purdue University - Main Campus Education Report

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#13 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 355 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $4,969 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Education Report

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 239 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on Education at Michigan State

#15 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 165 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $7,939 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UW - La Crosse Education Report

Indiana University - Northwest came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,287 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Northwest.

Full Indiana University - Northwest Education Report

#10

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 178 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also took the #21 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $8,366 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls Education Report

#11

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 86 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,911 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.

Full Purdue University Northwest Education Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin
#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 304 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also took the #25 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $11,868 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Top 25% in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 378 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#14

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 74 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Green Bay excels when it comes to education quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,337 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Education Report

#15

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Beloit College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Beloit College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Beloit, Wisconsin. It awarded 16 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Beloit also did well on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $8,574 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Beloit.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Education at Beloit College

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 209 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $5,052 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#17

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 177 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $11,528 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at UW - Eau Claire

#18

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 204 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,446 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Full UW - Stevens Point Education Report

#19

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
Top 25% in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 361 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.

Read full report on Education at Ball State

#20

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is a medium-sized school located in Platteville, Wisconsin that handed out 93 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $12,117 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Read more about Education at UW - Platteville

#21

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,641 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Read full report on Education at Indiana University - South Bend

#16 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 116 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,648 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at UIC

#8 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 253 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SIUC Education Report

#24

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 124 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Stout is also in the top of our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout is $10,695 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout

#25

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 368 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $11,578 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 Grand Valley State University Education Report

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Indiana University - Kokomo

Kokomo, Indiana
#28

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

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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 Horadrim.

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