23
Ranked Colleges
1,345
Degrees Awarded
$18,200
Avg Net Price*
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 Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 6,736 people earned their degree in engineering-related fields, making the major the 112th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, engineering-related fields graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $77,404 and had an average of $26,200 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,345 engineering-related fields graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,498 and $28,325 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in engineering-related fields. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality engineering-related fields 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 engineering-related fields program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The engineering-related fields 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 Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region”.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Trine also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering-related fields students list, UW - Stout has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at University of Wisconsin - Stout
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Northwest. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering-related fields degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue Northwest also took the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,384 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Full Purdue Northwest Engineering-Related Fields Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Dayton landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Dayton is $29,928 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Engineering-Related Fields at UDayton
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 Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 84 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Purdue
Central Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 26 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students.
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 more about Engineering-Related Fields at Central Michigan
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. BGSU is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 100 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
BGSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at BGSU
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering-related fields students list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $23,831 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Engineering-Related Fields Report
With a ranking of #9, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering-related fields degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering-related fields students list, NIU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Northern Illinois University
Eastern Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan also took the #14 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,127 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.
Full Eastern Michigan University Engineering-Related Fields Report
With a ranking of #11, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering-related fields degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
WMU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,371 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Western Michigan University.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at WMU
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 55 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students per year to attend IUPUI.
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 full report on Engineering-Related Fields at IUPUI
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 50 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
UM Dearborn also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $12,855 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
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 more about Engineering-Related Fields at UM Dearborn
With a ranking of #14, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 15 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana State is $14,270 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
Full Indiana State University Engineering-Related Fields Report
With a ranking of #15, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 48 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland also took the #21 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $13,449 for great lakes region engineering-related fields 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 Engineering-Related Fields at Oakland
Michigan State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 149 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Michigan State
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
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 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Engineering-Related Fields Report
Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 58 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,772 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Illinois Institute of Technology.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Illinois Tech
Wayne State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering-related fields students in 2020-2021.
Wayne State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students per year to attend Wayne State.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Wayne State
With a ranking of #20, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Miami University - Oxford
Michigan Technological University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 17 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan Tech, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,384 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students per year to attend Michigan Technological University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Michigan Tech Engineering-Related Fields Report
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Case Western is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.
Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Case Western is $34,214 for Great Lakes Region Engineering-Related Fields students.
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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Case Western Reserve University
Northwestern University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 33 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering-related fields students list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $23,279 for great lakes region engineering-related fields students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Northwestern
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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
- *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.
college factual
