2022 Best Value 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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 19,113 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 136 colleges that offer a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that 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.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree education students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 136 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 844 students in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 136 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, VanderCook College of Music landed the #2 spot on the list. VanderCook College of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 32 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at VanderCook College of Music are $7,730, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Viterbo University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Viterbo is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 132 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students list, Viterbo has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Viterbo University are $9,312, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alverno College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.
Alverno also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Alverno College are $10,521, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Olivet Nazarene University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 340 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Olivet Nazarene also took the #19 spot in our “Best 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 Olivet Nazarene University are $13,393.
With a ranking of #6, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
IWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IWU are $13,512, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Illinois State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 145 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students list, Illinois State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best 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 Illinois State are $11,069.
Marian University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Marian University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. It awarded 87 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Marian University are $11,070, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ashland University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 177 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ashland are $6,444.
Aquinas College Michigan did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Aquinas College Michigan is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 20 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
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.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 52 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
UW - River Falls also took the #24 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - River Falls are $18,233, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
With a ranking of #12, Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.
Xavier also took the #22 spot in our “Best 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 Xavier are $12,076.
Cardinal Stritch University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cardinal Stritch University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 169 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cardinal Stritch University are $11,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Education at Cardinal Stritch University
Otterbein University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Westerville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Otterbein University are $6,767.
University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 98 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #16, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 296 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Education at Northern Illinois University
Greenville University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Greenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Greenville are $8,082, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Lake Forest College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lake Forest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lake Forest, Illinois. It awarded 10 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Lake Forest also did well on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lake Forest are $14,896, but some majors have different tuition rates.
National Louis University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 611 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at NLU are $12,096, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #20, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 226 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Francis are $13,839.
With a ranking of #21, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 186 masters’s 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.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Ohio that handed out 44 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MVNU are $8,964.
Read more about Education at Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 38 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at WLC are $10,080, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Baldwin Wallace University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Baldwin Wallace University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berea, Ohio. It awarded 58 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Baldwin Wallace University are $11,191.
With a ranking of #25, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Valpo is located in Valparaiso, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Valparaiso University are $12,220, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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Best Education Master's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Education in the Great Lakes Region
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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.
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