2023 Best Value Colleges for Secondary Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
67
Ranked Colleges
1,288
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Secondary Education is the 84th most popular major in the country with 10,547 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,288 secondary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 67 colleges that offered a degree in secondary education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality secondary 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 secondary 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.
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 Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Secondary Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $245 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Full Northwestern Secondary Education Report
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Secondary Education at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 43 degrees to qualified ’s secondary teaching students in 2020-2021.
U-M also took the #5 spot in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,670 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U-M.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.
Read full report on Secondary Education at U-M
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIUC.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Secondary Education at UIUC
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ivy Tech Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 1 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $6,213 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Secondary Education at Ivy Tech Community College
Ball State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 12 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,273 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 more about Secondary Education at Ball State University
With a ranking of #7, Indiana University - Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IU Northwest is $2,714 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Secondary Education at IU Northwest
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 10 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 more about Secondary Education at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Oakland University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Oakland University Secondary Education Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Secondary Education Report
Indiana University - East ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - East is located in Richmond, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s secondary teaching degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend IU East is $5,516 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Secondary Education at Indiana University - East
Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Fort Wayne is $7,414 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Secondary Education at PFW
Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,587 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Secondary Education Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Secondary Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Indiana University - Kokomo landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IU Kokomo is a public institution located in Kokomo, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Kokomo is $5,506 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Secondary Education at IU Kokomo
Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 1 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Saginaw Valley State University also made our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $10,424 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Secondary Education at Saginaw Valley State University
National Louis University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. National Louis University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’s secondary teaching degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, NLU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NLU is $14,190 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Secondary Education at National Louis University
Ferris State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $6,577 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Secondary Education at Ferris State University
Valparaiso University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s secondary teaching degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, Valpo has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valpo is $19,548 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Secondary Education at Valpo
Wisconsin Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WLC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,073 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WLC.
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%.
Full Wisconsin Lutheran College Secondary Education Report
Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Saint Xavier University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 17 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SXU is $9,716 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Saint Xavier University Secondary Education Report
With a ranking of #22, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 59 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $11,060 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Secondary Education at Wayne State University
University of Southern Indiana ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 5 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for USI is $7,815 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Secondary Education at University of Southern Indiana
Lewis University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified ’s secondary teaching students in 2020-2021.
Lewis also took the #19 spot in our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lewis is $13,284 for Great Lakes Region Secondary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Secondary Education at Lewis
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Secondary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 50 ’s secondary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Secondary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for great lakes region secondary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Secondary Education Report
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