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2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region

109 Ranked Colleges
5,292 Degrees Awarded
$15,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 43,003 people earned their degree in elementary education, making the major the 17th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,292 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 109 colleges that offer a degree in elementary education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great elementary education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the elementary 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.

More Ways to Rank Elementary Education Schools

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More Elementary Teaching Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Elementary Education in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sinclair Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Sinclair Community College is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $4,959 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Full Sinclair Community College Elementary Education Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region. UW - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 136 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region elementary teaching students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

3

Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #3 spot on the list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 94 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - River Falls also took the #19 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $13,844 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

4
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend National Louis University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 167 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

NLU also made our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for National Louis University is $14,584 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at NLU

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

6
Xavier crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio

With a ranking of #6, Xavier University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 9 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Xavier, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Xavier is $34,592 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at Xavier

7

Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

NIU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at NIU

8

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 69 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at UW - Stevens Point

9

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 61 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,462 for great lakes region elementary teaching students per year to attend SIUE.

Read more about Elementary Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

10

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 113 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Elementary Education Report

11
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #11, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Full WMU Elementary Education Report

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 86 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at UW - Eau Claire

13

With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 248 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Illinois State University

14
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Full Eastern Illinois University Elementary Education Report

15
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,127 for great lakes region elementary teaching students per year to attend Eastern Michigan.

Read more about Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan

16

Purdue University Northwest landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Purdue University Northwest

17

With a ranking of #17, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 94 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,305 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Western Illinois University

17

University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized school is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, and it awarded 39 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Platteville is $14,565 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at UW - Platteville

19

With a ranking of #19, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $16,285 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

20
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,213 for great lakes region elementary teaching students per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read more about Elementary Education at Ferris State University

21
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,377 for great lakes region elementary teaching students per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Elementary Education at Purdue

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Superior did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Superior is a small public school situated in Superior, Wisconsin. It awarded 89 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Superior is $14,084 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - Superior

23

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 64 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $14,590 for great lakes region elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Northeastern Illinois University

24

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $15,962 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Elementary Education Report

25
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 217 students in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students per year to attend Ball State.

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%.

Full Ball State Elementary Education Report

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