2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
169
Ranked Colleges
45,404
Degrees Awarded
$7,500
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 327,871 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $46,202 and had an average of $24,437 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 45,404 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,621 and $25,804 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 169 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank 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.
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 169 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, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 92 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $917 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
Full Northwestern University Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $4,777 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 100%, 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 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Education at UChicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 653 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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 impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Education at Purdue
Out of the 169 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, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 608 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #5 spot in our “Best 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.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Indiana University - Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #5 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 public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 248 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. 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
With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 613 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,788 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at UW - Madison
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 567 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best 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.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 more about Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sinclair Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 87 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $4,227 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Sinclair Community College Education Report
With a ranking of #9, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,554 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ball State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $10,786 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Education at Ball State
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 288 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $8,216 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Education at IUPUI
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 333 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse is also in the top of our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $10,075 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UW - La Crosse Education Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 674 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for 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 Education at Ohio State
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 1,035 students in 2020-2021.
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 Education Report
Oakland University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 428 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $8,839 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Education at Oakland University
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 264 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls excels when it comes to education quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $9,478 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Indiana University - Northwest landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 55 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Northwest is $3,534 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full IU Northwest Education Report
Indiana University - South Bend landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 111 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $6,544 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Education Report
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,880 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cincinnati State.
Read more about Education at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 385 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UIC also did well on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $11,351 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read more about Education at UIC
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 94 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College is $8,079 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Education at MATC
Central Michigan University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 559 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at Central Michigan University
Indiana University - East 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. Indiana University - East is located in Richmond, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for IU East is $6,831 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Education at IU East
With a ranking of #23, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 197 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne is $8,427 for great lakes region education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 240 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire excels when it comes to education quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $10,658 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full UW - Eau Claire Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 288 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend 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%.
Read more about Education at UW - Stout
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